By Kristel Satumbaga
Collegiate athletes like in the NCAA and the UAAP would have to wait a little longer despite the announcement of the Inter-Agency Task Force to allow the resumption of training for collegiate sports on Monday.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Popoy De Vera said they are forming a technical working group to craft a comprehensive guideline first before they officially allow collegiate athletes to train.
“We are looking at three weeks in crafting these guidelines because the challenge is maraming leagues in the country. We also have to tackle the specific concerns per sports discipline,” he said in the virtual press briefing.
The technical working group will be composed of officials from CHED, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Games and Amusements Board (GAB) and representatives from collegiate leagues.
De Vera said they plan to start with leagues that have small number of members first before “cascading to other leagues in the country.”
In a statement, NCAA Season 96 Management Committee chairman Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran said they will study the guidelines first before taking action.
“The position of the NCAA is that if there are no face-to-face classes, we won’t allow face-to-face practice. That position stays for now, but we’ll meet and see what are the guidelines of CHED,” Calvo said.
The UAAP, for its part, has yet to address the development at presstime.
The Joint Administrative Order Group of PSC, GAB and Department of Health has already asked the aid of professional leagues like the PBA, Chooks 3×3 and Philippine Football League in crafting these guidelines for proper implementation.
In an online press briefing on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said collegiate sports could now train in areas under General Community Quarantine and Modified Community Quarantine.
The decision came in light of the ongoing controversy surrounding University of Santo Tomas’ men’s basketball team, who went into a training bubble in Sorsogon despite government restrictions.
