By Ian Zane Esparaga | News Writer
Vol. XCI No. 17
Feb. 21, 2020
Following the COVID-19 scare and subsequent cancellation of extra-curricular activities, Silliman University suggested the rescheduling of the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) at a later date.
Participation of student-athletes in the CVIRAA regional meet will have to wait as the university deals with the scare and the final examination of the students. Department of Education (DepEd) regional director Salustiano Jimenez confirmed last Feb. 17 that the regional meet has been rescheduled to March 15 to 21.
Based on the university’s first advisory regarding the COVID-19 concern, the university’s participation in the regional meet which was originally slated this month is withdrawn and all teams were instructed to suspend all its practices.
“Now the city division of DepEd sent us a letter of our confirmation whether we still push through with the participation of the regional meet,” SU Athletic Director Henry Piñero said.
SU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Earl Jude Cleope, responded that the pullout of athletes is solely due to the memorandum regarding COVID-19 from the Department of Health and DepEd. The memorandum prohibits the holding of big congregations and events, the regional meet being a gathering of student-athletes is one of these events.
Another concern of Piñero was that March is considered a closed month for the university. All extra-curricular activities in and out of the campus are not allowed.
Following this concern, the university made a recommendation to the DepEd regional office that the annual meet will be moved to April after the month of examination. If the decision of DepEd persists, it is going to be the discretion of the university president in regards to the reasoning from DepEd and the concerned departments namely: School of Basic Education, Junior High School, and the Senior High School according to Piñero.
As of now, the university athletics office has yet to receive an official list of qualified athletes. According to some coaches, some grade 11 senior high school students were picked up by other champion teams who will represent the city.
“As of now let us wait and see but we are participating in the regional meeting”, Piñero added.
The city will still be hosting the event despite the COVID-19 case. Dumaguete also hosted last year’s CVIRAA regional meet.
Photo from CVIRAA Facebook page
