st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam late this year.
Fernandez said vaccines for athletes are not only beneficial for their physical health but also their mental condition.
“Magandang mabakuhanan sila kasi peace of mind din para sa kanila habang nagti-training,” Fernandez said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Online Forum Tuesday, April 13.
“Hopefully July or August ma-vaccine na sila. Based sa pagdating ng vaccine.”
Fernandez’s statements came a day after reports there are two athletes who tested positive for COVID-19.
Sources refused to divulge any information on the two athletes particularly their sport, although assured that both are asymptomatic and are currently recovering at quarantine facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Philippine Sports Commissioner Mon Fernandez is encouraging national sports associations (NSAs) to look for local government units who can help them set up bubble training for athletes bound for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam late this year.
st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam late this year.
The announcement came after Malacañang allowed private companies to secure for their workplace.
“This is good news for Filipino athletes who will be competing in the Hanoi SEA Games,” Tolentino said, adding it will use the $40,000 subsidy from the Olympic Council of Asia to purchase the vaccine.
The country has sent an entry by number of 626 athletes to the SEAG Organizing Committee to compete in 39 of 40 sports. Entry by name will be finalized in the coming months.
Tolentino has already appointed POC First Vice President Al Panlilio to chair the task force on the COVID-19 vaccine procurement, where it would decide which brand they would procure for the athletes.