AFTER the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) earlier canceled the agency-funded events like the 10th Asean Paralympic Games, the annual Philippine National Games (PNG) and Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy are also out of the calendar year 2020.
This was confirmed by PNG/PYG project director Guillermo Iroy Jr. through a public advisory.
The said notice stated that "pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 922, declaring a State of Health Emergency throughout the Philippines and involving Covid-19 situation in the country, the PSC informs the public that the PNG and PYG-Batang Pinoy for the calendar 2020 have been canceled, in line with the directive from the President to support and cooperate in the government's efforts to contain the spread of the virus."
Iroy added in the advisory that with no available vaccine yet, the country takes every measure to slow down the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. "We are looking forward to brighter future ahead for the Philippines in all aspects with our collective efforts," he said.
Despite the absence of these national competitions, PSC Butch Ramirez has earlier said that some sporting events will soon be allowed when enhance community quarantine (ECQ) is lifted.
Ramirez said that he has recommended to the Inter-Agency Task Force to allow some individual sports and outdoor activities like golf, running, hiking, badminton (singles event), softball, baseball without tagging, skateboarding, tai chi, kung fu, taekwondo, and online chess.
The PSC chief, however, stressed that Philippine sports could not fully resume until a vaccine is found.