PSC cancels all sports events until December due to COVID-19 threat

The Philippine Sports Commission has cancelled all its sports events until December amid the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a press release on Wednesday, the PSC said they made the decision to follow the directives of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

However, the agency will continue releasing allowance for national athletes and coaches.

“We heed the call of the national government to cut expenses as we reroute majority of our resources to fighting the pandemic, but we also stand by our commitment to keep supporting members of the national team,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez.

READ: Duterte extends enhanced community quarantine in NCR, other 'high-risk' areas

The PSC has been getting its share from the income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), but the Commission is anticipating an effect to future remittances due to the health crisis.

“We continue to study projections and proposals and the board is ready to take necessary actions should they be needed,” Ramirez said.

Meanwhile, the PSC will withdraw further financial support to the 10th ASEAN Paragames, but they will honor prior commitments to the organizing committee.

A twin event of the Southeast Asian Games, the Paragames was supposed to be held in January but it was later rescheduled to March. It was then postponed indefinitely before getting tentatively moved to October. 

Some sports venues, such as the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, have been converted into COVID-19 quarantine facilities. —MGP, GMA News