According to Mikey Aportadera, officer-in-charge of the city’s Sports Development Office, there will be no tournaments, no leagues, or competitions just yet for basketball, football, volleyball, and frisbee.
“It will just be for sports and recreation. Technically, others thought that all contact sports are allowed under level 2. But it is the discretion of the LGU to allow it or not,” he said.
Resolution No. 50 Series of 2021, known as "A Resolution Adopting the Guidelines on the Conduct of Contact and Non-Contact Sports Activities in Davao City," signed by COVID-19 Task Force chairperson Mayor Sara Duterte on December 3 stated that contact sports activities that may be allowed are meant for exercise purposes only.
The mayor cited the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) guidelines on the implementation of Alert Level Systems for COVID-19 Response as of November 18, 2021, which provides that the conduct of sports activities may be allowed under Alert Level 2, subject to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sector-specific protocols.
The said resolution was in accordance with DTI Memorandum Circular No. 21-41, which outlines the minimum public health standards (MPHS) and protocols for fitness studios, gyms, and venues for non-contact exercise and sports.
The DTI memorandum provides that for all contact sports, the indoor venue allows 50 percent capacity as may be approved by the local government unit (LGU) where such games shall be held; must cater only to fully-vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years old even if unvaccinated; workers and employees of venues must also be fully vaccinated; patrons/clients and workers/employees must wear face masks at all times.
About 70 percent capacity for outdoor venues may be allowed for contact sports as may be approved by the LGU where such games shall be held and workers or employees must be fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, a 50-percent venue capacity is allowed for all non-contact indoor sports; must cater only to fully-vaccinated individuals and those below 18 years old, even if unvaccinated. For outdoor, a 70-percent venue capacity is allowed; workers/employees must be fully vaccinated; patrons/clients and workers/employees must wear face masks at all times.
The Davao City Task Force COVID-19 Response Cluster added guidelines for contact sports - basketball, football, volleyball, and frisbee, which were recommended to be played in open field areas and reputable basketball courts registered with the Business Bureau, including those in subdivisions.
Meanwhile street games in the barangays are prohibited. Barangay games can be played in the barangay-owned or managed barangay covered courts only, and games are strictly by appointment/reservations.
The resolution also emphasized the no walk-ins, no vaccination, no play policy.
The DQR and temperature scanning by the management upon entrance and exit before and after the games must also be enforced; maintain safe distancing inside the court during games; wearing of masks are required when not playing, while it can be voluntary upon playing.
However, barangays that belong to the “High-Risk Area” shall be prohibited from the conduct of sports activities unless they are relegated to the “Low Risk" classification.
Duterte, in her resolution, ordered the COVID-19 Monitoring and Inspection Team, along with the security cluster and concerned barangays, to ensure that MPHS is strictly implemented.
The resolution was unanimously approved during the city’s Task Force COVID-19 meeting on November 29.