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ATHLETE Philip Ella Juico welcomed the positive news that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has developed a vaccine that is more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19.
“We are very happy with this, although they have yet to determine whether it is effective on mild or severe COVID-19 symptoms,” Juico told the Philippine Sports Writers Association (PSA) online forum on Tuesday.
The development has brought great optimism that the battle against the pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than a million worldwide will soon come to an end.
“For us in sports that is a very positive development because under the joint administrative order non-professional sports will only be allowed if there is a vaccine,” said Juico.
The president of the Philippine Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and president of the Philippine Super League (PSL) said he couldn’t wait for the vaccine to finally be released and made available to the public.
“They said it should be ready by the end of the year. Overall, it is a very positive development not only for Philippine sports but for society in general, ”Juico said in the weekly forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, MILO, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant and Philippine Amusement. and Gaming Corp.. and with Smart technology, with Upstream Media as the official webcast partner.
“A vaccine is a vaccine,” added the former president of the Philippine Sports Commission, who is seeking the position of first vice president in the Philippine Olympic Committee elections on November 27.
The good news comes at a time when PATAFA plans to host the Ayala Philippine Athletics Championships March 19-21 in New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. It was originally scheduled for next month, but was rescheduled due to “logistical considerations.”
The event will coincide with the two months of bubble formation of the members of the national pool in the enclosure that hostedth Southeast Asian Games last year.
Juico also revealed the PSL’s plan to host its original schedule of three indoor volleyball conferences in February, June and October.
“We will have a full menu. The plan is to have three regular conferences. But all this is based on the approval of the IATF at both the national and regional levels and the different LGUs (local government units) where we will carry out the competitions and practices, ”said Juico.
The PSL Invitational Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup originally scheduled for November 28-30 in Subic has been moved to mid-February due to the series of weather changes affecting the country.
“But overall, sports are having a big rebound,” he said.
