Ni Edwin Rollon

UNTI-UNTI nang binubuksan ang ekonomiya sa ipinapatupad na General Community Quarantine (GCQ) at kabilang ang sports sa sector na umaasang makababangon na rin matapos ang mahigit dalawang buwan na pagkalugmok bunsod ng COVID-19.

Matapos ang pakikipagpulong sa iba’t ibang professional sports organization at iba pang stakeholders, binuo ng Games and Amusements Board (GAB) at isinumite nitong Sabado ang ‘Proposed Framework for the Resumption of Professional Sports in the Philippines in Anticipation to the New Normal’sa Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

Isinumite ng GAB ang 59-page document nitong Sabado matapos ang masinsin na pagbalangkas ng GAB officials, sa pangunguna nina Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra, Commissioners Eduard Trinidad at Mar Masanguid  kasama sina Dr. Jesucito Garcia, Boxing chief; Dr. Redentor Viernes, medical section chief; Ms. Marissa So, horse betting division chief; Mr. Dioscoro bautista, pro basketball and other pro games chief at mga kinatawan ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), at Philippine Football Federation (PFF), sa layuning maisaayos ang pagbabalik ng pro sports event matapos ang pagkakatigil bunsod ng COVID-19.

Layunin din ng dokumento na matulungan ang IATF sa kanilang pag-aaral at pagbabalangkas ng programa para masiguro na walang masamang epekto sa taong-bayan ang pagbabalik ng mga pro sports event tulad ng basketball, boxing, muay thai, MMA, motocross, triathlon, gayundin ang  amusement games na horse racing at sabong.

"We are in close coordination with the different professional sports bodies. PFF submitted its operational protocols last week, while PBA submitted its own health and safety guidelines last Friday. PFF is proposing to adopt a "No spectators rule and to shorten football conferences," pahayag ni Mitra.

Nakapaloob sa naturang proposal ang plano ni Boxing and other contact sports Division Chief Dr. Jesuscito Garcia para sa closed-door setting sa contact sports na boxing, MMA at Muay thai upang masiguro ang kaligtasan at seguridad ng mga professional combat sports athletes at ring officials.

"This initiative is also being done by other industries. We are hoping that DOH and IATF will consider our proposal and the health and safety protocols incuded therein , in order to help our  professional athletes and their families survive this trying time in our nation's history," pahayag ni Mitra.

Nauna rito, naisumite ni Dr. Viernes ang kopya ng GAB General Medical Guidelines and Health Declaration Form sa Department of Health (DOH) para sa inisyal na pag-aaral sa naturang programa.