Metro Manila mayors want contact sports only for fully vaxxed

MANILA, Philippines — The mayors of Metro Manila have recommended allowing only fully vaccinated individuals to play and watch contact sports, an official said yesterday.

At a press conference yesterday afternoon, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said the Metro Manila Council, consisting of all 17 mayors of the region, approved Resolution No. 21-28.

The measure provides proposed guidelines on the conduct of contact sports in the region.

Under the resolution, which would still be submitted to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for approval, only fully vaccinated individuals would be allowed to play and watch contact sports in an organized or unorganized event, as “incentives” for those already vaccinated.

“Considering that, in the conduct of a contact sport, the players are prone or susceptible to physical proximity with one another while the spectators are inclined or given to cheer, jeer, shout, chant or sing collectively or in a crowd, only fully vaccinated adults and minors shall be allowed to play or watch,” it read.

Players or spectators showing symptoms would not be allowed to play or watch the event.

It would also be up to the local government unit to allow or disallow spectators in any contact sport event, depending on circumstances.

Players would have the option not to wear face masks while playing, but while not playing, they are required to wear face masks and observe social distancing.

Spectators would be required to wear face masks and observe physical distancing at all times.

Organizers and venue owners would need to apply for permits from the concerned local government unit in organized events.

The city governments would supervise and ensure the compliance of the organizers and operators.

“The organizer and/or venue owner or operator shall have a written registry and health declaration of participants, spectators and all other persons in the event therein stating their names, addresses and contact numbers, and conduct temperature check and verification of vaccination cards,” the resolution read.

For both public and private unorganized events, for both indoor and outdoor venues, the concerned barangay official or venue owner would ensure and supervise the observance of venue capacity limitations, vaccination requirements and minimum public health standards.