NO VACCINE, NO GAMES
Non-professional leagues will have to wait a little longer before they are allowed to resume play.
The Games and Amusements Board (GAB), Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) yesterday released a circular reiterating its previous stand allowing only pro leagues to hold events and Olympic hopefuls to resume training until COVID-19 vaccines are made available to the public.
The three agencies made the statement in reference to the announcement of a certain league that calls itself Batang Pilipino Basketball League (BPBL), which has reportedly announced on its Facebook page it will have an upcoming tournament, a move that will be in direct violation of the JAO (Joint Administrative Order) that was signed in July last year.
“In line with the JAO and in accordance with the omnibus guidelines on the implementation of the community quarantine released by the IATF, non-professional sporting events such as tournaments, competitive events and athletic meets shall not be permitted,” said the statement from GAB chairman Abraham Mitra, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque and PSC chairman William Ramirez.
“Considering that an effective vaccine for COVID-19 has not yet been made available, it follows that the implementation of JAO shall remain in effect, until unless amended or revoked.
“Thus, PSC, GAB, and the DOH shall continue to adhere to the provisions of this JAO to help the government’s effort to curb the possible transmission of multiple COVID-19 variants, without compromising the welfare of our amateur and professional athletes and GAB-regulated sports associations whose livelihood largely depend on the conduct of professional sports competitions,” it added.
Mitra did not comment on plans by the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and the Philippine Superliga (PSL) to resume play in Subic soon.
But based on the statement, violation of the JAO regulations will lead to “penalties in the form of administrative fines” to be imposed through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for any willful failure to comply with the said JAO.