Iloilo province sets rules for contact sports resumption

By Karen Joyce Pumaren

As contact sports in Iloilo were given the green light, the provincial government set down the general conditions for the conduct of games in the province under the new normal.

“No vaccine card, no play” is the main requisite to ensure that Ilonggo players enjoy without sacrificing health safety and undermining the COVID-19 transmission reduction measures.

Ray Cabarles, Provincial Sports Development Officer IV, said requiring players and athletes to be fully vaccinated is the major rule in the new face of sports in the province.

“For all the sports competitions held in the province in the new normal, participants must be fully vaccinated and have a vaccine card as proof for their vaccination,” Cabarles said.

Ronald I. Sta. Ana, a sports podcast host, swimming coach, and basketball enthusiast in the province, favored the rule.

“Players, coaches, sports enthusiasts, and everyone concerned have the responsibility or part to get vaccinated, better yet took booster shots. In that way, we’ll be lessening the possibility to contract the virus,” Sta. Ana said.

While COVID-19 full vaccination is the general condition, consent and other guidelines for the resumption of contact sports is the jurisdiction of the local government of each municipality in the province.

“Iloilo is under Alert Level 2 with more relaxed COVID-19 restrictions which allowed the reopening of contact sports and the main rule to ensure health safety is requiring athletes to be fully vaccinated, but the governor instructed that the contact sports shall be directed to the local government unit for control,” Cabarles added.

The provincial government acknowledged that despite decreasing positive cases in Iloilo, the risk of acquiring the virus is present, especially during direct interaction like in contact sports.

“My advice, and that of Governor Defensor, is for LGUs and contact sports players or groups to assess the COVID-19 cases status in their area before organizing contact sports activities,” Cabarles said.

Joshua Carisma, Iloilo Young Booster Football Club (IYP-FC) player, agreed with to the views and recommendations of the provincial government despite the itch to play football.

“Football has been part of my life. But as much as I wanted to play, we cannot erase the fact that COVID-19 is still there and anytime we can get infected by the virus. So, we just need to obey the rules of the government and trust its process. I believe that someday we can go back to action,” Carisma said.

Sta. Ana shared Carisma’s view.

“I am excited to go back to contact sports but of course extra precautions and safety measures should not be taken for granted.  Everyone should still follow standard health protocols and not letting our guard down,” Sta. Ana added.

Meanwhile, to set athletes and sports enthusiasts in motion and to break the inactivity of sports in Iloilo, the province through Center for Sports and Physical Fitness (CSPF) arranged a Governor’s Cup for dual sports.

“Since our alert status has gone down, the province would like to provide an alternative and an opportunity for players and athletes to regain their sports drive, thus we organized an open and age group tournament for badminton, table tennis, and tennis,” Cabarles said.

The tournament was held at the Iloilo Sports Complex (ISC) on Dec 11-19.

The tournament served two purposes: to revive sports in Iloilo and encourage Ilonggo athletes and sports enthusiasts to get vaccinated.

“Let’s get vaccinated so we can play sports,” was the slogan of the activity.

When all are vaccinated contact sports in the province will be back without hesitation.

Karen Joyce Pumaren is a Communications and Media Studies student of UP Visayas.