Rizal Memorial, PhilSports likely to be used for COVID-19 patients

INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—As the battle against the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) intensifies, the Philippine Sports Commission has volunteered its own facilities to decongest the growing number of cases in hospitals.

PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has sent its staff to survey the Philsports Complex in Pasig City and are set to visit the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila this week.

“These are government facilities and we are already anticipating that it might come to a point that these can be used as venue options to decongest the hospitals,” said Ramirez, who already brought it up to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

With the help of the DPWH, Ramirez said they would assess how the different facilities inside the Philsports Complex and RMSC could be used in line with the requirements of the Department of Health (DOH).

“We have the space newly renovated, fully air conditioned with a steady water supply,” said Ramirez.

The RMSC and Philsports are home to over a thousand athletes and coaches from various sports.

Majority of them have been asked to go home before the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine two weeks ago except for around 30 athletes and coaches, medical and admin staff assisting them and security personnel guarding the two complexes.

PSC chief of staff and national training director Marc Velasco assured that the management committee of the PSC is already crafting plans to ensure that the remaining athletes and personnel are secured and isolated from the areas to be identified and taken over.

“Thorough disinfection of the venues will be undertaken regularly, before and after their use,” said Velasco.

With COVID-19 infections reaching over a thousand cases in the country, the venues being considered for use at the Philsports Complex are the multi-purpose arena and track oval.

“These times call for unselfish patriotism. These times call for everyone to be heroes,” said Ramirez. “This is us, the sporting community stepping up to the plate.”

The historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Rizal Baseball Stadium have been identified as possible venues inside the RMSC.

In times of crisis, these venues were used as evacuation, warehouse and repacking centers for relief goods.

“Sports has been placed at the back burner during this trying part of our journey as a people. However, it does not mean we just sit and watch,” said Ramirez.