The Joint Administrative Order group is now working with universities and colleges to make it possible for student athletes to return to practice.
The government panel is making strides in this direction as investigation of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers for health and safety protocol violations continues.
“We’ll be working with collegiate leagues and universities on how we can move forward in the training of student athletes,” said national training director Marc Velasco of the Philippine Sports Commission.
A shift in the JAO group’s discussion took place after they found out about the alleged ages of the athletes from UST who went to Sorsogon to train.
They learned that eleven of the 17 players who allegedly participated were reportedly below 21 years of age.
The ages of student athletes were among the concerns of the tripartite body which is investigating the Growling Tigers for health and safety protocol violations
Details on these young players surfaced following a meeting with the Commission on Higher Education last Friday.
And this will be tackled further when the government panel brings its findings to the Department of Justice in a meeting today.
The CHED, through chairman Prospero de Vera, felt that violations may have been committed when the Growling Tigers did team workouts while lockdown protocols were still in place.
Among that violations which the training camp committed centered on “the movement of all persons in areas placed under GCQ.”
Under GCQ, rules have it that “any person below 21 years old, those who are 60 years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women, including any person who resides with the aforementioned, shall be required to remain in their residences at all times, except when indispensable under the circumstances for obtaining essential goods and services or for work in permitted industries and offices.”
The JAO now has a copy of a proposal which San Beda Red Lions team manager Jude Roque submitted to the Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases three weeks ago.
The measures are stricter than what have been proposed for by the Philippine Basketball Association.
But the JAO will also seek input from the professional leagues on what best practices to follow, and how this can be done.
“San Beda has submitted its proposal. Now the JAO will draft the guidelines,” said Velasco.