Training of student-athletes at the tertiary level will finally resume following the signing of the joint memorandum circular between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, Dec. 13.

The signing of the JMC was held at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gymnasium in Manila. It was attended by CHED Chairman Popoy De Vera, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, CHED Executive Director Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro and CHED National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Virginia Akiate.

It was also attended by officials of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

During the ceremonial signing, De Vera announced that the government is now allowing the training of student-athletes including competitions.

Training of student-athletes as well as athletic competitions were suspended from 2020 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country. However, with increasing vaccination rates among the population, the government has started to ease quarantine restrictions.

At the tertiary level, De Vera said that activities such as limited face-to-face classes in select degree programs have started as early as January this year. In September, the offering of limited in-person classes was expanded to other courses that need hands-on training.

In November, CHED also announced that limited face-to-face classes up to 50 percent capacity in all degree programs in the areas under Alert Level 2 will also be allowed. Early this month, the entire Philippines was also placed under Alert Level 2 status.

“We have been very conscious of our responsibilities,” De Vera said, noting that universities along with other concerned agencies have been working together for the gradual resumption of activities in higher education.

While the government has allowed the resumption of collegiate athletic training, De Vera said that “only fully vaccinated student-athletes” may join the face-to-face training.

He also stressed that health protocols applied will be in place, noting that the guidelines to be used in athletic training will be similar to those that are being observed by HEIs during the conduct of limited face to face classes.

De Vera said that UAAP and NCAA schools have been allowed to conduct collegiate athletic training following the release of the CHED-DOH JMC.

During the virtual presser, De Vera said that collegiate training may “start immediately.”

Asked when the UAAP and NCAA will start, De Vera said that it will depend on the athletics associations noting that the next step should be is how to make the athletic “competitions safe” for all the participants.

Meanwhile, Jaro explained that those student-athletes who will participate in the training will not be required to undergo or submit COVID-19 testing.

Duque, on the other hand, assured that as schools nationwide gradually resume limited face-to-face activities, the DOH along with the health experts are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation in the country especially with the looming threat of the Omicron variant.