PSC cancels all sports events until COVID-19 vaccine is available

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) — Sporting events in the Philippines are now the latest casualties in the war against COVID-19.

The Philippine Sports Commission has decided to cancel all its sports activities until December of this year.

“No COVID-19 vaccine, no sporting events” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez in a text message to CNN Philippines.

After a virtual board meeting Wednesday, the agency’s top sports officials instituted the belt-tightening measure in compliance with the directives of the Department of Budget Management and Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on prohibiting activities even beyond the enhanced community quarantine.

“We heed the call of the national government to cut expenses as we reroute majority of our resources to fighting the pandemic, but we also stand by our commitment to keep supporting members of the national team,” Ramirez said.

PSC is financially aided by mandated contributions from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation but given the present lockdown, PAGCOR’s income has been greatly affected and may impact its remittances to PSC in the future.

“We continue to study projections and proposals and the board is ready to take necessary actions should they be needed,” said Ramirez.

The sports chief thanked PAGCOR for its steady remittances to the agency to be able to provide allowances for national athletes and coaches.

Aside from this, the PSC has also decided to withdraw further financial support to the 10th ASEAN Paragames (APG) that had already been postponed twice.

The PSC, however, assures that they will honor its previous commitments to cover the initial operating expenses of the organizing committee.

Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo says this is disheartening news for local and ASEAN para-athletes but they will continue to monitor the situation before ultimately canceling the games.

“Altogether, the hosting of the APG by the Philippines is currently not feasible without government support. We will send a communication to the ASEAN Para Sports Federation on the present situation so that its Board of Governors may decide on the fate of the APG.”, said Barredo.

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