Amid pandemic: “Bubble” ordinance to boost Cebu City’s sports programs

CEBU, Philippines — Once approved, Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco said the “Sports Bubble” ordinance proposed by councilor Dondon Hontiveros would be a big boost to the city’s sports programs amid the pandemic.

During the city council’s regular session last Wednesday, Hontiveros filed the “Sports Bubble” ordinance that seeks to regulate the resumption of isolated health-enhancing physical activities and sports within the jurisdiction of Cebu City during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Once it’s approved, there will be a step up to our sports program,” said Hayco.

While the ordinance is applicable only to all professional sports that will be conducted within the jurisdiction of Cebu City, it grants special exception to national teams and athletes vying to be in the national team or qualify for international games.

Hayco said the ordinance is very timely and relevant because some of the city’s athletes need to prepare for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics this July and the 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games slated November 21 to December 2 in Hanoi, Vietnam

Most notable among them is skateboard sensation Margielyn Arda Didal, who is on the verge of booking a ticket to the Tokyo Games where she is one of the country’s brightest hopes to deliver medal.

As of now, Hayco revealed that only the city’s archery team has started practicing because they were able to get approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

Once the “bubble” ordinance will be green-lighted, Hayco said they can already set their plans for Cebu City sports this year in motion.

“We will slowly go back to physical practice and work around the virus in close coordination with IATF,” Hayco ended.