NO GAME, NO PAY. Volleyball referees like Jun Nisperos (right) will have no source of income with crowd-drawing sports events, like volleyball, which are still not allowed under the general community quarantine. With their status still in limbo, the city government is seeking ways to assist the sports sector in the near future. (PNA photo by Pigeon Lobien)
BAGUIO CITY – The unused funds from the canceled hosting of the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) could be used to jump-start the assistance for those in the sports sector who lost their jobs due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Levy Lloyd Orcales, city youth representative and city council chair for youth and sports committee, proposed to use the unspent fund from CARAA, which the city was supposed to host last February but moved to March 22 and was eventually canceled when the ECQ was declared last March 17.
“It was my manifestation with the city council during our weekly session last Monday (May 11) that the PHP4 to PHP5 million unspent funds from the CARAA be used to help out our coaches, trainers, and also referees,” Orcales said.
He said that he will file a measure in the city council to make the request.
“But then that is up for the approval of both local finance committee and the city council,” he added.
Members of the sports sector have already written the city sports office (CSO) and Orcales for assistance as sports events have been canceled mid-March.
Earlier, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that although the city will shift to general community quarantine, crowd-drawing events like basketball and volleyball are not to be staged yet.
Running, zumba, and golf are the sports that will be allowed under the GCQ, said Magalong.
Magalong said that the city’s three golf courses will start operation but golfers will be on a “you play, you leave” status for the meantime, while the Burnham Park and the Baguio Athletic Bowl will be opened for joggers as well as zumba enthusiasts from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. from Mondays to Saturdays but must get a separate quarantine pass from their respective barangays with the heading “sports pass”.
“They cannot use the pass issued to them to go the market," he said. (PNA)
