The go-signal by the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases for student-athletes to go back to training is a welcome development. But this does not a guarantee that face-to-face activities can take place.
University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics Dean Francisco Diaz said this after accepting his role in the Technical Working Group, which was formed by the Commission on Higher Education last Monday.
The TWG, which will be led by CHED executive director Cindy Jaro, has been formed to draft recommendations that will make it possible for varsity players from different disciplines to resume training.
“While this is a welcome development, people should understand that the IATF is not a green light for collegiate teams to start embarking in physical face to face practice.” said Diaz.
Two more officials of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines will join a Technical Working Group formed by the Commission on Higher Education.
Executive Director Rebo Saguisag and Far Eastern University Athletics Director Mark Molina have been tasked to be part of the TWG tasked by the CHED to craft guidelines.
“The forthcoming guidelines that will be crafted is imperative for all universities compliance. Kasi sa totoo lang, ang pandemya ay hindi pa natatapos at kahit nakakakita ng positive trend in terms of the plateauing of the COVID infections, nandiyan pa din siya at kinakailangan na, we won’t let our guards down,” added Diaz.
The guidelines being crafted are workouts for student-athletes aged 21-years-old-and-below in general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine areas.
“As we wait for these guidelines, the UAAP continues to emphasize the importance of health and safety of our student-athletes,” said the league, which is headed by Nong Calanog of Season 83 host de La Salle University, in a statement.
The TWG was formed after CHED chairman Prospero de Vera III had a meeting with Diaz and Chooks-to-Go 3×3 tournament director Eric Altamirano.
The formation of the TWG comes after the JAO group wrapped up its inquiry on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers men’s basketball team and the National University women’s volleyball squad’s health and safety protocol violations.
The JAO group has brought their findings to the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Govermnent also yesterday.
In the report that was submitted by UST’s legal team, the JAO group leaned that UST’s Athletic Director Fr. Jannel Abogado, at first, refused to approve coach Aldin Ayo’s request for a training camp in his home province of Sorsogon.
According to accounts, Ayo came back a week later, with the players giving their consent “since they had nothing to do in their hometowns.”
It is now up to the DOJ to issue a show-cause order, which will demand UST officials to explain why its officials should not be sanctioned.
Similar actions will also be done to the National University, after its women’s volleyball team held a training session in Laguna.
