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Panaad Stadium opens for non-contact sports activities

By Nanette Guadalquiver

May 27, 2020, 3:43 pm

<p>Negros Occidental’s Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City<em> (PNA Bacolod file photo)</em></p>

Negros Occidental’s Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City (PNA Bacolod file photo)

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental’s Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan here has reopened to residents who want to engage in non-contact sports activities.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that since Tuesday, the stadium has been allowing entry to those who want to use its facilities while the province is under general community quarantine (GCQ).

“Panaad is open already. (But) I heard that senior citizens are not allowed in the tennis courts. Me, I will allow them. Certain sports are allowed except for team sports. Badminton, tennis, ping-pong, chess -- these are allowed. You can (now also) go running, jogging, walking,” he said on Wednesday.

Although the Panaad Stadium’s grandstand has been closed for renovation months before in preparation for Negros Occidental’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa in 2021, its other facilities are available for use by sports enthusiasts.

Lacson, however, said the Capitol Lagoon and Park, which is also frequented by joggers and runners, remains closed.

“Lagoon is still closed, but if they will allow me, I’d like to open it. We just have to control the number of people coming in,” he added.

On May 22, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) approved the resumption of non-contact sporting activities in areas under GCQ.

These areas include Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.

Its Resolution 38 stated that athletes and enthusiasts of running, biking, golf, swimming, tennis, badminton, equestrian, and skateboarding, among others, in GCQ regions can now play the sports they love again “provided that the minimum public health standards, such as the wearing of face masks and maintenance of physical distancing protocols and no sharing of equipment when applicable are observed.”

The resolution also stated that facilities that cater to these sports can reopen but they would be “limited to basic operations.” (PNA)

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