Davao City implements guidelines for sports events

The Davao City Sports Development Division has issued guidelines for those organizing sports events in Davao City. The City Sports Office regulation involves two sets of rules for minor and major sporting events.

In an interview during the Madayaw Davao program aired over the city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio on Wednesday, Davao City Sports Office Head Mikey Aportadera said that aside from facilitating the issuance of permits for sports events, the City Sports will also be monitoring the actual proceedings to ensure that public health precautions, as well as the safety and security plans of the organizers, are observed and maintained throughout the events.

He said, “Ang tumong gyud aning processing of permits is because number one, we are still anticipating kanang mga possible surges, mga ingana, so mas maayo na lang na wala na lang gyud mi nagkumpyansa. (The purpose of these permits is, number one, we are still anticipating a possible surge of COVID cases so we deemed it better to not be complacent.)

According to the guidelines, minor events, such as barangay sports competitions, will require organizers to present a letter of intent to the City Sports Office detailing the security and safety plans for the event. Organizers must also secure a certification from the barangay concerned, which will be attached to the letter. The permit from the City Sports Office must be acquired five days before the event.

Major sporting events shall require organizers to present a letter of intent detailing safety and security plans, as well as emergency plans, to the City Sports which will then endorse it to the PSSCC. Upon acquisition of PSSCC permits, organizers will proceed to the City Business Bureau to acquire Special Mayor’s Permit. All certificates must be secured 15 days before the sports event.

The City Sports Office Head added that major and minor sports events are classified based on the size and scope of the activity, saying, “Ang major events mag-exceed og 100 people ang mu-attend or expected; unya if its planned and arranged by an organizer; unya ikatulo, if the event involves participants from lain-laing grupo, barangays, cities, or different clubs. Mao na sila ang classification sa mga major events. Ang minor events will only be organized by small groups, kanang mga homeowner’s associations, barangay, og less than 100 people ang attendees gikan sa proximity lang, og walay involved na monetary incentives sa ilang mga padula. So mao ra na gi-classify ra namo na sila as major and minor.” (Major sports events will have over 100 attendees or expected attendees; then, if it is planned and arranged by an organizer; and third, if the event involves participants from different groups from other barangays, cities, or different clubs. That is our classification of major events. Minor events will only be organized by small groups, like homeowner’s associations, barangay, with less than 100 people attending from the venue’s proximity, and without any monetary incentives for the participants.)

On top of this, PSSCC Head Col.  Angel Sumagaysay, during an interview with the Madayaw Davao program on Thursday, said that the PSSCC permit, as well as the Special Mayor’s permit, apply not just to major sports events but to all major social events to be held in the city. He reminded organizers of major events to not only focus on adherence to the minimum public health standards but to arrange for precautionary procedures for other emergencies such as fires and earthquakes as well.

“Ang atong ginahimo karon sa Davao City, actually dugay na ani, kinhanglan man gud, kung ikaw ang event organizer, dapat tagaan nimo og importansya ang security and safety aspect sa imong event … In case of fire, in case of linog, kining mga exits dapat padulong ni sila sa mga evacuation areas”. (What we have always done here in Davao City, if you are an organizer, you are required to give importance to the security and safety aspect of your event … In case of a fire or an earthquake, you must have emergency exits leading to the evacuation areas.)

Sumagaysay added that the safety assessment and other security services of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and Bureau of Fire Protection Region XI (BFP-XI) will be lent to major events free of charge. CIO