There will be no Palarong Pambansa this year.
The Department of Education has cancelled all of its events that draw huge crowds to help stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Secretary Leonor Briones made the announcement on Tuesday in an online press conference.
“‘Yung ating usual activities na napaka-exciting, nakakatuwa, at buong bansa nakikisali talaga ay pansamantalang kina-cancel natin.
“Tulad ng halimbawa ng Palarong Pambansa na buong bansa talaga ay naglalaro. As many as thirty thousand people gathered there in Davao,” she shared.
This is the first time in 16 years that the national inter-region, multi-sport event has been cancelled. Back in 2004, the event was postponed due to the National Elections.
The 2020 edition of the tournament was initially scheduled to take place in Occidental Mindoro, but the province gave up its hosting rights last October.
Marikina City stepped up to take over, but had to withdraw as well last March.
Slated events included archery, arnis, aquatics, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, futsal, gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball.
NCR is the defending champion in the event.
