Marcos: Gov't bringing back sports administration to DepEd

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the government is reincorporating sports administration in the Department of Education (DepEd) to further promote sports among students.

This was as he graced the opening of the Cagayan Provincial Athletic Association (CPAA) Meet at the Camalaniugan Sports Complex in Cagayan.

According to a Malacañang press statement, the President underscored the values of discipline, camaraderie, and perseverance that are instilled in students through sports.

The Palace quoted Marcos as saying that the government is “reincorporating sports administration” into the DepEd to “continue empowering the youth.”

“Dati, ang DepEd, ang tawag diyan DECS – Department of Education, Culture and Sports. Tinanggal ang sports sa eskwelahan,” Marcos said in his remarks at the CPAA Meet.

(The DepEd used to be called the DECS – Department of Education, Culture and Sports. Sports was removed.)

“Dahan-dahan nating binabalik sa eskuwelahan at para lahat ng ating kabataan ay nakakaranas ng sport, nakakapagpalakas ng katawan, at matututo paano makisama sa ibang team at ibang tao,” the President added.

(We are slowly restoring this in schools and for all of our youths who are into sports, who are strengthening their bodies, so that they will learn how to get along with other teams and other people.)

The DepEd organizes and holds the Palarong Pambansa, a yearly multi-sport event featuring student-athletes from regions across the Philippines.

Marcos emphasized the importance of promoting sports among students and the youth, adding that participating in athletic activities enables one to learn life lessons beyond the playing field.

“Patuloy pa rin ang palakasan dahil ito ang pinakamagandang training para sa ating mga kabataan dahil natututo tayo ng disiplina, natututo tayo ng camaraderie. Natututo tayo at kung paano pagka kahit na medyo nadapa ay babangon ulit para manalo ulit, para maging champion,” he said.

(Sports is the best training for our young, because we learn discipline and camaraderie. We learn, and even if we stumble, we will rise to win and be champions.)

“Kaya ipagpatuloy natin ito. We will continue to encourage sports amongst our young people because as far as I’m concerned, there is no downside to sport. Lahat ng makukuha ninyo, lahat ng mga ugali, lahat ng mga leksyon na matututunan ninyo dahil kayo ay sumasabak sa palakasan… Ay magagamit ninyo sa inyong mga buhay. Makakatulong sa inyo,” he added.

(We will continue this. We will continue to encourage sports amongst our young people because as far as I’m concerned, there is no downside to sport. Every takeaway, all the behaviors and lessons that you will learn from athletics… You will use it in your lives. It will help you.)

The CPAA Meet began on January 7 and will end on January 10. It is organized by the DepEd Schools Division Office Cagayan and supported by the Camalaniugan municipal government and the Cagayan provincial government.

The CPAA Meet will select provincial competitors to the region-wide Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association Meet which will be held in April 2026 as a prelude to the Palarong Pambansa in May 2026. — JMA, GMA Integrated News