The Department of Education (DepEd) Director of Palarong Pambansa Secretariat Joel Erestain will take the spotlight as resource speaker to present ‘Sports in Schools’ in the upcoming twenty-third virtual session of the National Sports Summit 2021 this Wednesday, July 28.

Director Erestain served at the Office of Senator Dick Gordon under the Blue Ribbon Committee. He became the Special Assistant of the President of the Home Guaranty Corporation. He also served at the local government as Barangay Kagawad of Fairview, Quezon City while doing his role as Head Executive Assistant and Spokesperson of the General Manager of the DOTC-MRT3. Later, Erestain was appointed as Director IV of the Department of Education.

For 73 years, DepEd has been the core pillar behind the success of the Palarong Pambansa – the annual national multisport event for student-athletes in elementary and secondary schools. The annual event aims to promote sports among the youth at the grassroots level.

“The Philippine Sports Commission and the DepEd has a strong partnership when it comes to promoting and developing the grassroots sports program in the country. Most of our Elite athletes now are a product of Palarong Pambansa," said NSS Project Director Marc Edward Velasco.

Both agencies share responsibility in making sure that sports become accessible to the periphery and to help develop world-class Filipino athletes.

“This is a great opportunity for Deped to converse with our participants - composed of sports coordinators from different LGUs, stakeholders, and educators to give them an in-depth understanding of what DepEd is doing and to help them startup their sports program in their areas” said Velasco who also acts as the Philippine Sports Institute National Training Director.