By Kristel Satumbaga
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has created a health and safety committee in anticipation of the region’s gradual transition from Enhanced Community Quarantine due to coronavirus pandemic.
The decision was made during the agency’s virtual board meeting Wednesday, where Executive Director Merly Ibay was appointed as committee head after Malacanang placed Metro Manila under ‘modified’ ECQ at the end of ECQ on Friday.
Deputy executive directors Dennis Rivera and Atty. Guillermo Iroy, as well as Chief of Staff Marc Velasco will serve as deputies.
The creation of the committee is in accordance with the occupational and health safety standards for public sector issued by the joint circular of the Civil Service Commission, the Department of Health, and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The committee will start work on May 22.
The agency has been continuously helping the cause of procuring personal protective equipment (PPEs), mask and disinfection supplies for the frontliners. At present, major sports venues like the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the Philsports Complex in Pasig City have been converted to temporary medical facilities.
In a statement, the PSC is also working closely with the Department of Health in the creation of a framework for the reintroduction of outdoor physical activities once quarantine is lifted.
All local sporting events, including the Philippine National Games and the Philippine Youth Games-Batang Pinoy, have been canceled by the PSC in order to focus its resources to a more pressing issue which is the global health crisis.
While sports-related programs have taken a backseat, the PSC is still taking care of the welfare of its athletes and coaches by continuously providing their allowances, regular updates from the National Sports Associations, and keeping the lines of its Sports Psychology Unit open.
Sports psychologists are actually conducting weekly online seminars for athletes and coaches to help their mental health in check.
Dr. Karen Trinidad, head of the sports psychology department, said almost 500 coaches participated in their first seminar a week ago.
Trinidad said most coaches are concerned with keeping the confidence following the change of their training routines and the cancellation of their competitions.
activities for this year are uncertain.
