Bubble training for national athletes in Baguio City will commence in the coming weeks.
Commissioner Ramon Fernandez of the Philippine Sports Commission said this following the arrival of the national karatedo team at the City of Pines on Friday.
While the national government has placed Baguio City, Abra, and Bohol under general community quarantine, with heightened restrictions from September 24 to 30, the city council of Baguio City is in talks with Fernandez on the training of the national teams.
Next to the karatedo, the national boxing contingent is returning to resume its training at the National Teachers’ Camp.
“I have spoken to the Mayor (Benjamin) Magalong about this. There is no problem since it’s the national team,” said Fernandez, on their Facebook Live weekly program “PSC Hour” regarding the city government’s clearance to let national athletes train in PSC-controlled facilities.
Fernandez noted that athletes in kickboxing are already doing their bubble training in La Trinidad, Benguet, while the national archers have theirs in Dumaguete, along with fencing in Ormoc City.
The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association is still in talks with the LGU and is seeking special permits from the local government unit of Baguio City.
The authorization is for long-distance and middle-distance runners, so they can run and jog around the National Teachers’ Camp without any light respiratory gear covering their faces.
For now, the preparations for Filipino athletes are geared for their participation in the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi, Thailand from March 10 to 20.
There’s also the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from September 10 to 25.
Sports officials are still waiting for final word on the status of the Southeast Asian Games.
