THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is not shutting down on its operations despite the ongoing community quarantine in Metro Manila.
This was guaranteed by PSC Chairman William Ramirez on Sunday, the first day of the quarantine that barred entry and exit of individuals in Metro Manila as ordered by Malacañang before the weekend.
“We will continue to serve and be available to the national athletes,” said Ramirez, who instructed the agency’s officials to ensure the unhampered delivery of basic services to the national athletes.
“These are extraordinary times which call for extraordinary commitment and service from all of us,” Ramirez added.
Ramirez ordered continuous assistance to the athletes and coaches still billeted at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
The PSC chairman restricted access at the PhilSports and the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila amid the virus outbreak, and Ramirez asked athletes and coaches billeted at the facilities to go home and limit their movement as a precaution.
The athletes who were unable to return to their homes—the Metro wide quarantine included the ban on travel by land, sea and air to and from Metro Manila—remained at the dormitory.
“They are provided with food, recreation facilities and medical monitoring,” Dormitory Manager Roselle Destura said.
There are 28 athletes, six coaches—four Filipinos and two Koreans—from fencing, boxing, athletics and para sports who remained at the PhilSports.
Acting Executive Director Merlita Ibay supervised the sanitation efforts in both venues.
“We made sure that athletes who needed assistance to go home like booking and buying their tickets are properly addressed,” Ibay said.
Deputy Executive Directors Atty. Guillermo Iroy and Simeon Rivera assured the availability of PSC personnel for medical emergencies, delivery of basic services in the facilities and the processing of salaries and allowances of national coaches and athletes.
“We all increase our susceptibility when we go out of our homes, but we also know that there are very basic services that we need to deliver,” Ramirez said. “I appreciate the sacrifice of our officers and staff to brave the risk to work on these things.”