ILOILO City – In the wake of recent fatal incidents involving student-athletes, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas has strengthened safety protocols, tightened supervision requirements, and reinforced coordination with local government units to ensure the protection of learners participating in sports competitions, training camps, and other school athletic activities.
DepEd regional director Dr. Cristito Eco said the agency is committed to eliminating safety lapses and ensuring that every student-athlete trains and competes in a secure environment.
“Our foremost goal is to achieve zero incidents of hazing within our schools. We must protect every student who participates in training and sports activities,” Eco asserted.
The strengthened safeguards are contained in Regional Memorandum No. 382, Series of 2026, which prescribes comprehensive guidelines governing training sessions, in-house preparations, and athletic competitions, particularly those involving the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) delegation for the 2026 Palarong Pambansa.
The heightened safety measures were reinforced following the recent drowning deaths of two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes during a team-building activity, which underscored the importance of stronger coordination among schools, coaches, parents, and local governments.
The DepEd Region 6 memorandum clearly defines the responsibilities of coaches, supervising officials, athletes, and parents to prevent accidents and ensure accountability, according to Leonerico Barredo, Chief Education Supervisor of the Education Support Services Division (ESS), Regional Sports Officer, and Regional Sports Coordinator of DepEd-6.
Among its major provisions is the mandatory securing of parental consent before learners are allowed to participate in any sports-related activity.
“Parental consent is a non-negotiable requirement, ensuring that parents are informed and supportive of their children’s involvement in sports,” Barredo said.
DepEd-6 has also strictly implemented the “carry all” policy, requiring coaches to maintain continuous custody and supervision of their athletes throughout training activities, competitions, billeting arrangements, and transportation.
The regional office has likewise strengthened coordination with local government units (LGUs), recognizing their crucial role in ensuring the safety of student-athletes during decentralized training activities held in various municipalities.
“Our in-house trainings are now taking place across multiple municipalities. To facilitate this, we have proactively communicated with local mayors to ensure they are aware and supportive of our training programs,” Barredo explained.
Under the memorandum, LGUs are encouraged to help ensure emergency preparedness by making municipal health facilities readily available to respond to medical emergencies. They are likewise requested to provide medicines, vitamins, medical supplies, and other logistical assistance whenever possible.
The memorandum also requires organizers to ensure medical readiness during all training activities by coordinating with LGUs for first aid personnel, emergency equipment, and health response protocols.
Barredo emphasized that safeguarding student-athletes is a shared responsibility requiring close cooperation among schools, families, coaches, and local government officials.
“Activities of DepEd are not for DepEd alone. They require coordination. We don’t know what really happened didto sa tragic incident sang Ateneo, but kon naka-coordinate with LGUs, parents, and coaches, malikawan gid ang incidents,” he added.
Through the strengthened guidelines, DepEd-6 aims to cultivate a culture of safety and accountability in school sports while ensuring that athletic excellence never comes at the expense of the welfare and well-being of student-athletes./PN
