By Liza Agoot/ PNA
BAGUIO CITY — An official of the Department of Education Cordillera (DepEd-CAR) on Thursday assured that its 744 athletes, coaches, and officials going to the Palarong Pambansa will get appropriate immediate medical attention for the duration of the national sporting event.
“Part of the delegation is a medical team, whom we will bring along with us to take care of the group,” DepEd-CAR public information officer Georaloy Palao-ay said.
The Palarong Pambansa will be held in Davao City April 21 to 27.
He said annually, the Cordillera delegation is always accompanied by a medical team, which is augmented by doctors and nurses provided by the host local government unit in billeting areas and in competition venues.
The region’s medical team will be composed of two medical doctors and a few nurses.
In press conference Wednesday, Dr. Maria Clotilde Soza has expressed confidence that they will not encounter water-borne diseases considering the safe water quality that the city government has maintained.
“I am from Davao and I know that the city government had for years invested to have safe water. Davao city has the best water system in the world, the delegates are assured of their health and the cleanliness of the facilities to be used,” Soza said.
She added that as host, Davao has assured that the water that will be provided to the delegates is potable aside from ensuring the sanitation of the areas that will be used by the different delegations from all over the country.
She said before leaving for the event, delegates are also provided with the list of the do’s and don’ts to assure safety and security.
Agustin Gumuwang, chief of the DepEd-CAR Education support services, said they have been assured of the sanitation of the facilities.
Gumuwang said Davao City mayor Sara Duterte has issued an Executive Order enjoining all the food providers for the delegations to have their kitchen utensils sanitized, as a precaution from any illness caused by unsanitary food preparation.
The delegates themselves will also be responsible in maintaining a clean and safe billeting area, being one of the factors looked into in judging the cleanest, greenest and eco-friendly delegation.
Soza, meanwhile, said the change in environment may cause a person to be ill, especially for those from Baguio, which has a very cool weather compared to Davao.
She said athletes are discouraged from buying food outside the venues to avoid ingesting contaminated food or drinks. (With reports from Aiza Caramto, OJT/PNA)
