Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III has allowed basketball games in the municipality but set a rule for minors.

Ponce issued guidelines involving contact sports after these were allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) under Alert Level 2.

Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce III with a basketball team in 2017 (Pateros municipal government)

Under IATF guidelines, contact sports are allowed under Alert Level 2 subject to the approval of local government units where such games will be held.

Contact sports and other activities are allowed “at a maximum of 50% indoor venue capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years of age, even if unvaccinated, and 70% outdoor venue capacity,” according to the IATF guidelines.

“We are now allowing basketball games in courts when these are not in use but there will be controls to be implemented,” said Ponce in a live broadcast on Facebook.

He said those 18 years and above should be fully vaccinated before they are allowed to play basketball games.

For 12 to 17 years old who are unvaccinated, Ponce said they are temporarily allowed to play basketball but only until Dec. 15.

After Dec. 15, 12 to 17-year-olds who are unvaccinated will not be allowed to play basketball.

Ponce urged parents to register their minor children for vaccination.

The municipal government has started an express registration for minors through text messaging.

Parents in Pateros can register their kids by sending their name, birthday and address to cell phone number 09496235555. They will receive a text message on the vaccination schedule.

As of Nov. 11, the Pateros municipal government has vaccinated 2,368 minors aged 12 to 17 years old.

#Pateros contact sports

Pateros issues guidelines on contact sports