Lapu-Lapu allows contact sports for vaxxed players, spectators

CEBU, Philippines — Contact sports in Lapu-Lapu City, including basketball, is now allowed provided that players and spectators are vaccinated.

“The most awaited game of basketball is now allowed. “Yes, okay na ta sa contact sports as long nga fully vaccinated ang mga players,” Chan said.

Chan emphasized that a permit from City Hall will be needed even for simple games to ensure that all participants are vaccinated against COVID-19.

In line with this, Chan said gyms can now accommodate at full capacity provided, too, that everyone inside, including the audience, is vaccinated. Health protocols must also be observed strictly, especially the wearing of masks.

Chan believes that allowing contact sports to resume would encourage more residents to have themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.

Other contact sports like volleyball will also be allowed.

Commuting

Meanwhile, Chan said public utility vehicles in the city, particularly tricycles, can now accommodate passengers at full capacity.

He will also refer to the City Council the request of commuters to lower the fare, which was made higher when passenger capacity was slashed to maintain physical distancing in PUVs.

“Mobalik na ta sa atoang normal nga pahimutang sa atong mga pasahero, pero ang atong plitehan wala pa mausab,” he said.

“We will endorse that to the City Council para compute ug mapa-menos nato ang atong plitehan,” he said about the fare.

In can be recalled that as one of the safety and health measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus was physical distancing, and the national government ordered all public transport to reduce passenger capacity by 50 percent.

The government then allowed a provisional increase in fare rates to compensate for the decrease in capacity. In Lapu-Lapu, some tricycle drivers are reportedly charging P20 or P30 per passenger.

Chan said he sees it fair to return to the previous fare rates now that passengers capacity is back to 100 percent.

From the two-passenger limit, tricycles are now allowed to carry three passengers, which the mayor said should result to fare reduction. — JMO (FREEMAN)