The NCAA and UAAP have likewise ruled out hosting their seasons last year, with the potential of staging them later in the first quarter of 2021 if circumstances improve.

However, as the pandemic continues to rage on, the most awaited collegiate league has yet to materialize.

As progress has occurred, combined with a gradual shift to face-to-face sessions, athletes and others engaged in the sports area are optimistic.

“Sa resumption [of trainings], it can be done within the year,” Jaro said on Friday during a press conference in Letran.

“Nasa final stages na lang siya and we’re just working on the additional provisions na lang. But the overall framework has already been finalized and they should confirm with the CHED guidelines.”

Training has been conducted virtually for a year, which has tested both the players and the coaches, but both the UAAP and NCAA teams are looking forward to beginning physical training sometime in November.

While some teams are already inquiring to make amendments to dorm access in the hope to compete in February 2022, Javo made a caveat that everything would still depend on the success of face-to-face classes.

“We’re taking the same direction sa implementation ng face-to-face if it can be expanded to the other programs. The direction, as stated by CHED chairman Prospero de Vera, is let’s evaluate first the trainings and if we can see that it’s safe, we can institute mechanisms to discuss the return to competitions,” said Jaro.

“What we formulate sa guidelines, we take an important consideration sa mga proposal ng stakeholders. We take a look at it closely because we want to be clear na we’re not just working with this with the UAAP and the NCAA, nationwide ito and we’re looking at it at a macro perspective,” she said.

While plans are being set up, there are also ongoing vaccination campaigns and rollouts for students in aid of the gradual implementation of face-to-face classes. 

“This is a nationwide program,” added Adamat. “We’re not limiting it to the athletics but also for all the students. Incidentally, we started with these guidelines and very active ang UAAP and NCAA. We want to make vaccines accessible to all students because ang end goal talaga natin is if we can establish herd immunity, we can go back to the old normal.”