Go: Vaccinate national athletes

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, has renewed his appeal to the national government to ensure that members of Team Philippines are inoculated for them to properly train and participate in the Tokyo Olympics in July and the Hanoi SEA Games in November.

“Ang tagumpay nila ay tagumpay rin ng buong bansa. Hirap na hirap na ang ating mga kababayan pero subukan nating bigyan ang taumbayan ng rason na magkaroon ng pag-asa at magkaisa,” he said in highlighting the positive impact of sports to Filipinos.

“Marami rin po ang naghihirap sa ating mga atleta at tatandaan natin na bukod sa pagrepresenta sa ating bansa, lahat po sila ay may mga pamilya rin pong pinapakain at binubuhay. Ang pagbabakuna sa kanila ay hindi lang bilang suporta sa ating mga atleta, kundi suporta rin upang maiangat muli ang kanilang kabuhayan,” he added.

Go earlier discussed his appeal with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. Both committed to include qualified athletes in the priority list, without prejudice to previously identified priority categories such as frontliners, senior citizens, those with comorbidities and essential sectors.

“Bilang chair ng Senate Committees on Sports at Health, umaapila ako na bakunahan na agad ang ating mga atleta na sasabak sa upcoming international competitions. Makiisa at magmalasakit tayo sa Team Pilipinas. Suportahan at proteksyunan natin sila dahil karangalan rin ng bansa ang nakataya rito,” he appealed.

Go also noted that the country’s athletes and delegation members for upcoming international competitions must be prioritized in the vaccination in order not to jeopardize their health condition and performance, as well as their chances of winning medals for  the Philippines.

The senator urged the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), in coordination with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), to finalize the master list of athletes competing for the Olympics and SEA Games, which shall be submitted to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases through the Department of Health (DOH).

According to the PSC and POC, the country is expecting to form a delegation with around 100 members for the Olympics. An estimated 1,000-strong delegation will also be formed for the SEA Games, including athletes, coaches and team officials, among others.

“Ngayon na kailangan nila ang tulong at proteksyon mula sa sakit, ibigay muli natin ang suportang kailangan nila hindi lamang sa oras ng kanilang kompetisyon, kundi pati na rin sa kanilang preparasyon at panahon ng kanilang pangangailangan,” he appealed.

“Bilisan na po natin para hindi tayo maipit sa oras dahil malapit na po ang mga kompetisyon,” he stressed.