Anticipating the return of amateur football nationwide, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has allocated a portion of the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Fund to PFF to aid Regional Football Associations (RFAs) in their efforts to resume activities and competitions in their respective territories.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered almost all football activities in the Philippines since March 2020 which meant that local amateur competitions and activities including the annual Regional Festival of Football were also shelved.
Several PFF activities for 2020 such as the PFF U15 and U17 Boys National Championships, PFF Girls U16 and U18 Regional Championships also did not push through as only professional sports were allowed to resume under strict government health protocols. The PFF’s coaching and refereeing courses also shifted to blended online courses.
FIFA grants a total of USD1 million COVID-19 Relief funding to each FIFA member association, to be distributed in two tranches for activities listed in FIFA guidelines.
Recognizing the need to support all the RFAs due to the lack of football activities for the year, the PFF Board of Governors approved the relief program for the RFAs upon the recommendation of a Task Force composed of chairman Cong. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun and members Jay Adriatico, Dan Stephen Palami, and Engr. Henry Sabate, which crafted the program with PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes.
Each RFA can avail of the following program activities:
- RFA Staff Hiring
- Maintenance of Football Infrastructure
- RFA Administration Subsidy
PFF president Mariano Araneta, Jr. said the COVID-19 Relief Fund will go a long way in the efforts to restart football under the new normal in the country.
“We are living in unprecedented times,” said Araneta. “The past few months have been challenging for people all over the world as they deal with pandemic. I am delighted that FIFA has remained very active in supporting member associations in these difficult times.”
With the PFF COVID-19 Relief Program, Araneta hopes the RFAs will be equipped to plan and be ready for the resumption of amateur football in the near future.
“As we anticipate for the safe return of amateur football activities, PFF will help RFAs jumpstart football in their respective areas,” he added.
