CEBU CITY鈥擳he regional athletics meet in Central Visayas will push through in March despite the COVID-19 scare, the spokesperson of the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office said.
Amy Villarmia, regional DepEd information officer, said 鈥渃onsolidated reports have already come out saying that it is already safe.鈥�
She said none of those monitored or observed for COVID-19 in the region tested positive for the virus.
鈥淲e cannot stop the parents from feeling less secure,鈥� said Villarmia.
鈥淏ut we are assuring them that we are on a high alert and we have our own precautionary measures,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e will not decide if it is not appropriate,鈥� she added.
The Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association is scheduled in March in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, one of the places visited by the Philippines鈥� first confirmed COVID-19 cases, a Chinese woman and her boyfriend who already died.
Villarmia said the Negros Oriental provincial government had given assurance that all places visited by the couple from Wuhan, ground zero of COVID-19 infection, had been 鈥渄isinfected and cleansed.鈥�
She said the DepEd was encouraging students to participate even as fears lingered over COVID-19. The DepEd sought to give assurance that everyone in the region was safe from the virus.
鈥淲e will not be putting their health and well-being at risk,鈥� she said.