PSC 'prepared to respond' to PH athletes as rumors swirl on positive COVID-19 cases

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez expressed the agency's readiness to tend to national athletes rumored to have contracted COVID-19. Jess Escaros/PNA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Rumors have surfaced concerning the national athletes during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Word from the grapevine claims some of the Filipino sportsmen have already contracted the said virus.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez admitted on Tuesday that he has not heard the said rumors before.

"So far, I did not have fresh information na merong na-affect ng COVID," Ramirez said in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.

However, he further said that the PSC is ready if in case the confirmation regarding the positive cases comes.

"Through our medical group, we are prepared to respond to the athletes who are inflicted with the infection," Ramirez quipped.

The concern right now, according to the PSC chief, is the funds for the quick response, citing the case of one of its employees in which his hospital bills skyrocketed to as high as PHP3 million.

Good thing for the PSC, added Ramirez, PhilHealth, despite the corruption issue surrounding it, has already set some funds for the COVID-19 response.

"I was informed by Marc Velasco and Atty. [Guillermo] Iroy na merong allocation ang PhilHealth, PHP300 [million] or more," he further said.

Still, Ramirez hopes that none of the other national athletes and the PSC employees will get caught by COVID-19.

"Mahirap magkasakit," he further said, stressing the importance of the safety protocols like the wearing of face masks, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and limiting the outdoor walks to only essential needs.

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