The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) praised the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) for the well-maintained bubble set-up of the men’s basketball tournament last April 23 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera, III acknowledged that the UAAP carefully achieved the necessary adjustments to comply with the health and safety protocols so the UAAP could avoid hitches during its ongoing season. So far, the collegiate league has tallied zero coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections throughout the men’s basketball tourney. 

“I think the fact that there have been no infections for the whole tournament is a testament to the fact that the CHED-DOH (Department of Health) guidelines were made...they were actually made with the full participation of the stakeholders,” De Vera said.

The UAAP will still continue the current bubble setup until the men’s basketball tournament wraps up on May 12.

“To be honest, magastos siya, masakit sa ulo (it’s costly, [it gives you] a headache), but we rather risk, [and] pay the high cost just to make sure that everything is okay,” UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag said.

- Adrian Earl E. Taruc

(Photo by Andrea Joy Gonzales/FEU Advocate)