The proposed playbook of guidelines is aimed at holding a successful UAAP resumption and governing how teams move about in order to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, assuming that the games will go ahead this 2022 as planned.

“We continue to consult with the experts and we talked with the representatives of the other leagues, and we’re happy that the PSC, GAB, and CHED helped us in crafting these protocols,” UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag told Radyo5’s Power and Play with Noli Eala on Saturday.

“Approval na lang yan. Nagkaroon lang ng konting glitch dahil bumalik tayo sa ECQ, pero naantala lang.”

As early as now, UAAP organizers are working desperately to hold the resumption of the delayed season but this will not be easy for the league.

After consulting with experts and offices, Saguisag shared that they still need to get a nod from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The league must also get a green light from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Saguisag also takes into consideration the conduct of the season in a bubble-esque environment if the UAAP returns in the middle of the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Bubble ang tinitignan namin. Sabi nga nila it’s either you have a bubble or you don’t. And iba ang general public health concerns when you open the malls and restaurants as opposed to opening a sports bubble which is a controlled environment. I would even argue that keeping these sports bubbles would actually be safer and for their better interest than sa kanilang probinsya na di natin alam kung paano sila nagpapractice,” Saguisag said.

One of the measures indicated in the proposed playbook is the vaccination of all participating student-athletes.

The league’s executive director is pushing for vaccination to be one of the requirements on the UAAP’s health and safety protocols.

“Pagpunta namin sa IATF, we’ll make it part of our requirements, na for everyone to be involved, everyone has to be vaccinated. We’ll adopt everything and add vaccination for everyone involved,” he said.

Saguisag has high hopes that sooner or later UAAP can finally be back after a year of delay.