PSC rescues stranded individuals

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is keeping its doors open to anyone or everyone in need in these trying times.

With several of its venues already tapped as makeshift hospitals in the government’s battle against the pandemic, the PSC has made its baseball stadium at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila available for locally stranded individuals (LSIs).

“It’s our way of helping the Office of the President for the LSIs because we have enough space for them as a government agency,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez yesterday.

It’s just another venue that the PSC has made available for COVID-19 purposes next to the nearby Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium as well as the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, now being used as makeshift health centers.

An estimated 7,000 individuals, including 3,000 walk-ins, reportedly packed the baseball site, which will serve as their temporary shelter while they wait for a chance to be sent back home to their respective provinces.

The second batch of the government’s “Hatid Tulong” program will undergo rapid testing before they are sent out.

“They have started to leave now (yesterday),” said PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez.

The PSC had been active in providing help as it has donated hundreds of mattresses to frontliners and 500 laptop computers that were used during the Southeast Asian Games last December.