The local government of Mandaluyong said practices and scrimmages are still prohibited in the city even if regulations were recently downgraded to General Community Quarantine.
Mayor Menchu Abalos made this clarification Sunday, May 16, a day after a Bulletin story came out that Rain or Shine was allowed by the city to hold full practices at Reyes Gym in Barangay Highway Hills.
Rain or Shine had secured a certificate from the City Health Officer but it has since been revoked due to current rules and regulations of the Inter-Agency Task Force.
“The City of Mandaluyong, through its Mayor, Menchie Abalos, clarified that it has not issued any permit or certificate allowing the conduct of practices or scrimmage games for any contact sports at any venue within the city,” Mandaluyong’s Public Information Office said.
“Mayor Abalos said such activities will remain prohibited based on existing IATF rules and regulations. Any certificate or permit issued by the City Health Officer (on his wrong assumption that said activities are allowed during GCQ) is hereby revoked accordingly.”
Rain or Shine is said to be starting plans to stage its practices in Batangas City instead since the PBA had already secured the approval of its local government a couple of weeks ago.
Metro Manila and provinces inside the NCR Plus bubble, namely Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and Bulacan were placed back to GCQ last Saturday, May 15, but with “heightened restrictions.”
Under the stricter GCQ guidelines, practices and scrimmages can't be held inside NCR Plus since gyms will remain closed.
That is why PBA commissioner Willie Marcial had told teams to ask the permission of the LGUs, even if the league was permitted by the IATF to hold practices and scrimmages in GCQ areas.
The Games and Amusements Board is also seeking a clarification to the IATF if PBA teams can train inside NCR Plus.
But NorthPort said it was able to secure an approval for practices to be held at King's Landing Gym in Cainta, Rizal.
Meralco, on the other hand, left Sunday, May 16 for Ilocos Norte for a 10-day training camp after clearing all requirements that included a pair of swab testing procedures.