PSC cares for ‘stranded’ national bets

Despite the full closure of its facilities, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) shall continue to serve and be available to the national athletes.

Chair William Ramirez personally 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,” explained Ramirez, as he ordered continuous assistance to the remaining athletes and coaches billeted at the agency’s PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.

In previous announcements, the agency locked down its two major facilities located in Manila City (Rizal Memorial Sports Complex) and Pasig (PhilSports Complex). All athletes billeted in said facilities were asked to go home. The remaining athletes who were unable to do so have been accommodated at the PhilSports dormitory. They will be provided with food, recreation facilities and medical monitoring.

These athletes needed to stay there after failing to secure transport tickets days before the community quarantine ordered by Malacañang. There are 28 athletes, four Filipino coaches and two Korean coaches—from fencing, boxing, athletics and six para sports—being assisted at PhilSports.

Acting executive director Merlita Ibay supervised the sanitation activities in both venues, as well as made sure that athletes who need assistance to go home like booking and buying their trip tickets were properly helped.

The two deputy executive directors, Guillermo Iroy and Simeon Rivera, meanwhile, shall ensure that staff are available for any medical emergencies, delivery of basic services in the facilities and its remaining occupants, as well as the processing of salaries and allowances.“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. INQ