FOLLOWING the approval of the Metro Manila mayors, chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) the proposed guidelines for the conduct of contact sports in the metropolis as Covid-19 cases decline in the country.
However, Abalos said only fully vaccinated players will be allowed to play or watch contact sports.
Abalos, concurrent chairman of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), stressed the need to recommend to the IATF the unified and official stand of Metro Manila mayors on the conduct of contact sports subject to the IATF’s evaluation and consideration.
“A technical working group, headed by Department of Health-NCR Regional Director Dr. Gloria Balboa, was created to study the possible conduct of contact sports. It underwent a very tedious process,” said Abalos at a press briefing at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City.
With these guidelines being recommended to the IATF, “we can help the contact sports industry to get back in the game and give motivation to the public, especially the sports enthusiasts, to get fully vaccinated. However, we have to wait for the IATF’s approval on this matter,” Abalos explained.
“Since players are susceptible to physical proximity with one another while spectators are inclined to cheer or chant in a crowd, having them fully vaccinated will reduce risk of transmission,” he added.
Based on MMDA Resolution No. 21-28, all 17 mayors of Metro Manila are unanimous in recommending the following policy guidelines:
1. Emphasis is laid on the venue capacity limitations, vaccination status, observance of minimum public health standards, and contact tracing;
2. Considering that, in the conduct of a contact sport, the players are prone or susceptible to physical proximity with one another while the spectators are inclined or given to cheer, jeer, shout, chant, or sing collectively or in a crowd, only fully-vaccinated adults and minors shall be allowed to play or watch in an Organized or Unorganized Event. This is to “incentivize” persons to get vaccinated. However, players or spectators who are symptomatic shall not be allowed to play or watch the event. Further, the Local Government Unit shall have the prerogative to allow or disallow spectators in any contact sport event as the circumstances may require;
3. The players shall have the option not to wear face masks while playing. However, when not playing, the players must wear face masks and observe social distancing. On the other hand, spectators and all other persons shall wear face masks and observe social distancing at all times;
4. In an organized event, for both public and private and indoor and outdoor venues, the organizer and/or venue owner or operator thereof shall apply for the necessary permit from the concerned Local Government Unit and declare the nature of the event, number of participants, and duration and further ensure and undertake that venue capacity limitations, vaccination requirements, and minimum public health standards are strictly enforced. Moreover, the organizer and/or venue owner or operator shall have a written registry and health declaration of participants, spectators, and all other persons in the event therein stating their names, addresses, and contact numbers and conduct temperature check and verification of vaccination cards. The Local Government Unit shall supervise and ensure compliance of the organizer and/or venue owner or operator with its/their declarations and undertakings; and
5. In an unorganized event, for both public and private and indoor and outdoor venues, the concerned Barangay Officials and/or venue owner or operator thereof shall supervise and ensure observance of venue capacity limitations, vaccination requirements, and minimum public health standards.
In line with the IATF’s Guidelines on the Implementation of Alert Levels System for Covid-19 Response in Pilot Areas, indoor facilities should only be filled up to 50 percent, and outdoor areas at 70 percent of their capacity, and with only fully vaccinated adults allowed entry.
The MMC, composed of 17 mayors of the Metro Manila, is the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA.