No classes Sept 17-21 in Baguio pre-school up to senior high

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 128, series of 2018 suspending classes in the pre-school to senior high school levels, both private and public, on Sept. 17-21, 2018 to pave the way for the conduct of the annual Batang Pinoy National Finals in the city.

The suspension of classes was done upon consultation with concerned officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of City Schools considering that a good number of public schools will be used as billeting areas for delegations from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. A majority of athletes representing the city will also come from the private and public schools, considering the sports events are for individuals aged 15 and below.

 “We deemed it necessary to suspend the classes in the pre-school to senior high school levels to allow our youth to witness the conduct of the week-long sports competition that will be hosted by our city for the first time. We also want our youth to cheer for our participating athletes considering that Baguio City is the defending champion of the Batang Pinoy games,” Domogan stressed.

He explained that DepEd will make the necessary adjustments to the school calendar for the current schoolyear to allow the schoolchildren to cope with the week-long suspension of classes and for the putting in place of the schedule of the makeup classes that will be spread out through the course of the schoolyear.

Section 16 of Republic Act (RA) 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 provides that every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, thus, necessarily implied therefrom as well as powers necessary, appropriate or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of the general welfare of its constituents.

Within their respective jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to balance ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliance, scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals and enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.

The opening ceremonies of the Batang Pinoy event hosted by Baguio and Benguet will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 3 p.m., at Baguio Athletic Bowl. It will be preceded by the traditional parade of athletes and sports officials from Upper Session Road to the Baguio Athletic Bowl.

Some 7,000 athletes and sports officials are expected to flock to the city during the week-long sports competition to participate in 28 sports events that will be played in different venues across the city and nearby La Trinidad town.

Domogan urged the residents to support local athletes who will be competing in the different events to inspire them to excel in their chosen fields of expertise.-- Dexter A. See