In an effort to define the professional players from amateur athletes, officials of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB) issued the guidelines that will give a clearer picture on the matter through a Joint Resolution No. 2020-01.
“This joint resolution fulfills a very long felt need in sports community,” said Mitra. “If an athlete gets paid and does not play for the flag, then he or she is a professional athlete.”
“With this development, it is hoped that there will be no confusion of any kind among sports stakeholders and implementors in the future.”
The resolution between the PSC and GAB – with the Department of Health that comprises the Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001 – would guide sports stakeholders.
This would likewise benefit sports regulators in implementing their functions and ensure the proper operation of the two agencies as certain terms were redefined for pro and non-pro sports.
Under the law, the two agencies are under the Office of the President.
GAB, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 871 and Executive Order No. 120, is mandated to regulate and supervise all professional sports and games, while the PSC is created to serve as the sole-policy making and coordinating body for all amateur sports development programs and institutions under Republic Act No. 6847.
The GAB-PSC joint resolution states that professional sports or competitions shall refer to individual or team sports, games, contest, tournament, competitions and bouts, whereby participating athletes are paid sums of money or other forms of compensation as salary or prizes.
“We must remember that the JAO only allows the resumption of professional sports competitions in areas classified as low risk during this time of pandemic,” said Mitra.
“According to the JAO, the holding of actual games for amateur sports shall be suspended until such time effective vaccines or medicines are developed,” added Mitra.