By Jel Santos
The Palarong Pambansa 2020 will not be postponed because it will officially open in May, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday clarified.
Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones announced that school activities will be postponed during a Senate hearing on the preparedness of agencies on the novel coronavirus.
“Secretary Briones has announced that the Department will issue a memorandum giving details on the postponement of specific national DepEd events usually held in February, such as the NSTF (National Science and Technology Fair), NFOT (National Festival of Talents), and NSPC (National Schools Press Conference),” the DepEd Philippines official Facebook page said.
“We reiterate that the Palarong Pambansa is NOT included on the list since it will officially open by May this year.”
DepEd said a complete copy of the memorandum will soon be released at its website: www.deped.gov.ph.
On Jan. 31, the Department of Health announced that a 38-year-old Chinese woman who travelled to the Philippines from Wuhan, China tested positive for the novel coronavirus. It was the first recorded case in the country. She is currently under quarantine at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
A 44-year-old man from Wuhan, China who also tested positive for the virus died in Manila on Feb. 1, the first person outside China to die from the disease.