THE facilities of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will soon be turned into temporary medical facilities to help decongest hospitals, as the war against Covid-19 rages, with infections breaching the 1, 000-mark.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez confirmed that the two sports complexes of the government in Metro Manila--namely the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the Philsports Complex in Pasig City--are both being surveyed by the Department of Public Works and Highways to assess how the different facilities inside may be used in line with the Department of Health’s requirements.
Ramirez said that in light of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Orders in line with the Covid-19 fight, the PSC has volunteered the mentioned government facilities as venue options.
“They are government facilities so we were already anticipating that it might come to that point,” said the sports chief, adding that he has already discussed this with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
Most of the national athletes were asked to go home before Luzon implemented the enhanced community quarantine. However, some 30 athletes were stranded in the facilities, while a few coaches, medical and admin staff were also asked to look after the stranded athletes.
Senior executive assistant and national training director Marc Velasco assured that the management committee of the PSC is already crafting plans to ensure that remaining athletes and personnel are secured and isolated from the areas to be taken-over.
“Thorough disinfection of the venues will be undertaken regularly and after their use,” said Velasco.
“These times call for unselfish patriotism. These times call for everyone to be heroes, even. Let us step up to the plate, so to speak. This is us, the sporting community stepping up to bat,” said Ramirez in a social media post of the agency’s official social media accounts.
The venues being considered for use at the Philsports Complex are the Multi-purpose Arena and the track oval. The possible venues that may be used at the RMSC are the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Rizal Baseball Stadium. All these venues have been used before as evacuation or warehouse and repacking centers for relief goods. (RSC from PR)