The UP Mindanao Department of Human Kinetics (DHK) announced the appointment of Prof. Jonathan Y. Cagas, PhD, as one of the Country Contacts for the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) and the Primary Contact for the Global Observatory for Physical Education (GoPE!).
GoPA!’s mission is to monitor and promote physical activity through data and collaboration. According to GoPA!, physical inactivity remains one of the leading risk factors for chronic disease worldwide. Globally, 1 in 3 adults is physically inactive.
This data is contained in its GoPA! Country Cards, which have served as a trusted source for decision-makers, researchers, and civil society.
In 2025, GoPA! will launch the third edition of its Country Cards. The 2025 Country Cards present a refreshed view of national progress in research, surveillance, and policy. The new edition includes 186 country profiles.
The full set of the 2025 GoPA! Country Cards will be accessible at GoPA!’s redesigned website: https://new.globalphysicalactivityobservatory.com/
This launch also marks the first edition of GoPE!, the Global Observatory for Physical Education. As a sibling initiative to GoPA!, GoPE! focuses on school-based physical activity systems and will launch its own set of Country Cards alongside GoPA!’s at the Health and Energy Platform of Action (HEPA).
Through the Country Contact, GoPA! encourages all researchers, public health professionals, educators, policymakers, and civil society to use the Country Cards as a tool for strengthening national systems and promoting health through physical activity.
Prof. Cagas is the Coordinator of DHK’s MS in Human Movement Science program. He holds an appointment as a UP Scientist, and his research interests focus on yoga, lifestyle, and holistic physical well-being.
