Although the Philsports Complex in Pasig City was locked down after a staff of the Philippine Sports Commission tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), an official of the agency assured the facility is COVID-free.

Marc Velasco, PSC national training director, said Friday that the decision to close the venue together with the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila is only for safety purposes of tenants inside, who include PSC chairman Butch Ramirez and commissioners Charles Maxey and Ramon Fernandez.

“It’s for precautionary measures to ensure that there will be minimal interaction between the staff of the two complexes,” said Velasco in a phone interview with the Manila Bulletin.

“But we assure that the staff at Philsports Complex and tenants are all negative (from COVID-19) as of the moment,” he added.

Three days ago, Ramirez issued a statement regarding the lockdown of the PSC-controlled facilities after one of its staff tested positive in a recent round of RT-PCR testing.

According to reports, the staff goes to both facilities venues as part of the job.

The venue in Manila houses the main office of the PSC, while the one in Pasig serves as quarters for officials, athletes and coaches.

Aside from Ramirez, Maxey and Fernandez, other tenants staying in Philsports include Korean fencing coaches Kim Seung Jun and Park Sang Sun, sports and medical staff of the PSC.

As for the athletes, Velasco said all have already vacated the facility, formerly known as ULTRA.

“Wala na yung mga athletes, naka-uwi na silang lahat. Ang last na nakaalis sa ULTRA is yung boxer natin na si Irish Magno. So wala na tayong atleta dun, and ang next na gagawin is yung plan to disinfect the quarters,” he said.

While the PSC offices in Rizal Complex and Philsports Complex are shuttered, Velasco said that operations are still ongoing as employees are on ‘work from home’ mode status.

Velasco said they are particularly working on the monthly allowances of athletes and monitoring as well on their respective health conditions.

“Tuloy lahat yung monitoring so trabaho pa din naman ang mga empleyado. Inaasikaso din siyempre yung allowances ng athletes natin, so tuloy kami maski na sarado ang opisina,” said Velasco.

“Kung kelan ang balik ng opisina, most likely after 14 days since nag-announce ng lockdown.”