Republic of the Philippines

HEALTH SERVICES OFFICE

City Government of Baguio

MEMORANDUM

FOR: ROWENA P. GALPO, MD, MPH

City Health Officer

SUBJECT: Request of Mr. Arnold D. Balaba, Race Director, Slowfootrunner Events

Management

DATE: November 3, 2021

Relative to the above-stated subject, the letter dated October 28, 2021 coming from Mr. Arnold
D. Balaba, is requesting approval for the conduct of a Time Trial running event entitled
“Baguio Ultra 55K” schedule on November 7, 2021.
The letter furthered some conditions, such as limiting participants to 30 with 5 runners being
sent-off every minute, advising their staff and runners to practice physical distancing at all
times and keeping the surroundings clean during the event.
Should the event be considered, the following are recommended minimum protocols which
shall be in addition thereto;
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:
 The activity – should not place any individual or community at risk of exposure to the
Covid-19 virus including any emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases;
 Elderly and persons with underlying medical problems (including but not limited to
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and
immunosuppression should not be allowed to join the activity/event)
 These protocols are only minimum, stricter standards shall be implemented should
there is a need to do so;
 Also, these protocols shall be dynamic and be constantly evolving such that updates
should be incorporated/prevail as needed and applicable. Such that any restrictions/
procedures/ ordinances/orders promulgated by the City of Baguio and Benguet
Province prior to the actual conduct of the event shall prevail;
 Consider “Bubble-type” activity wherein no live audience will be allowed entry to the
venue and that spectators shall not be allowed to further avoid crowd gathering;
 Health Protocol Officer/s shall be designated to monitor the strict implementation of
these protocols, monitor health status of all participants, keep records of individuals
who participated in the event, refer symptomatic individuals to appropriate health
authority/facility;
 Participants, including but not limited to; athletes, staff, coaches, trainers who will be
coming outside the City of Baguio shall pass by the necessary quarantine/travel pass
procedures including any required tests and documentary requirements.

II. INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL MEASURES:

A. Engineering/ Controls:
 Installation of handwashing facilities or alcohol stations at the registration,
starting and finishing points – hands free soap and towel/tissue dispensers,
automatic alcohol dispensers;
 Installation of barriers, partitions, ropes at the registration sites – separating
employees/organizers from the participants/public;
 Routine disinfection – of any highly touched surfaces and areas, if any;
 Provision of temporary holding/isolation area for those who shall be developing
symptoms during the event.

B. Administrative Controls:
 Temperature scanning before entry – anyone showing symptoms shall not be
allowed to participate;

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  Social distancing requirements – maintain at least 1-meter distance – if space is
ample, allow for 6 feet distance from others;
 Information materials and signages, in the event areas, to promote:
- Do not touch eyes, nose, mouth and face
- Cough and sneeze etiquette procedure
- Hand hygiene procedure
- Proper Wearing of masks including disposal thereof
- Disinfection procedures for specific operations, facilities and/or work
areas
 Health monitoring – before, during and after the event;
- Stay at home advisory if showing/manifesting symptoms of illness
- If during the event, someone (staff, guest and/or participant) develops
symptoms of an illness, distance them from others and guide them to the
holding/isolation area.

C. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

 Face masks and Face Shields (as applicable) – face coverings are to be worn always
and correctly to prevent asymptomatic carriers of COVID 19 from spreading the
virus;
 Offer additional provisions for face masks;
 Proper donning and doffing including disposal;
 Provide disinfectant to be applied before discarding;
 Wearing of face masks with exhalation valves shall not be permitted as face
covering.

III. GUIDELINES FOR THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF THE EVENT (RACE AND
AWARDING):
A. On attendance:
1. Pre-registration of participants (for possible contact tracing) be considered to
prevent crowding at the entrance/entry point;
2. Elderly and persons with underlying medical problems (including but not
limited to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and
immunosuppression should not be allowed to join);
3. Limit audience/attendees by allowing entry only those who have direct
participation. If possible, remove the awarding altogether to avoid crowding;
4. Should awarding be made limit attendance to those who will be awarded only to
allow for social distancing – at least 1-meter distancing or 6 feet distancing if the
space allows;
5. Provide a pre-registered attendance - consider the use of QR Code;
6. Stay at home advisory if showing/manifesting symptoms of illness;
7. Advisory on the health protocols to be implemented during the event;
8. Strict observance of the proper wearing of masks and face shield (as applicable).

B. On Entrance and Exit ways:

1. Cordon/block all possible entrance – venue openings to ensure control of
crowd/attendees, including observance of unilateral flow;
2. Use separate entrances and exits for staff, guests and general public to
discourage crowded waiting areas;
3. Use of QR Code or at least information slips in leiu of the log books – allow
entry only for those who have their QR codes;
4. Provision of handwashing facilities or alcohol stations – hands free soap and
towel/tissue dispensers, automatic alcohol dispensers;
5. Use of calibrated thermal scanner for temperature reading. Participant/s with a
temperature of more than 37.5°C, or showing symptoms such as cough, colds,
and the like;
6. Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on
walls, to ensure that individuals remain at least 1 meter apart in lines;

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 7. There should be an isolation area for those who will be showing such symptoms
(before, during and after the activity) and that proper endorsement be made to
the nearest health care facility. – seats, masks, hand disinfectants should be
provided.
C. On the Seating Arrangements: during the awarding ceremonies:
1. If applicable, block off rows or sections of seating in order to space people at
least 1-meter apart or if space is ample, allow for 6 feet distance from others;
2. To allow for smooth entry, set a pre-determined seating for guests, and all
attendees, if possible;
3. If seated, provide separate seating arrangements for guests, participants and
general public attendees – if possible, consider points of origin (to be grouped
together), especially for the general public attendees.

D. On the use of Restrooms:

1. Consider limiting the number of people who occupy the restroom at one time to
allow for social distancing;
2. Do not allow lines or crowds to form near the restroom. Take steps to ensure
that individuals can stay at least 1-meter apart from each other;
3. Check on the availability of hands-free soap and towel/tissue dispensers,
automatic alcohol dispensers;
4. Routine disinfection of frequently touched surfaces (door handles, light
switches, etc.) and high traffic points (waiting areas, alleys).
E. Health check during the event:
1. Health Protocol Officers shall be designated and posted in various sections/areas
at the venue – who shall be responsible in monitoring that the implementation of
these minimum health protocols are strictly followed;
2. If an attendee or staff develops symptoms while at the event separate them from
others as soon as possible and until they can go home or be endorsed to a
nearest health facility. Provide them with clean, disposable facemasks to wear, if
available;
3. Provide as well as a tissue or some other way to cover their coughs and sneezes.
If needed, contact emergency services for those who need emergency care;
4. Advisories, Information materials, reminders, video presentations shall be
regularly announced/viewed as constant reminders of minimum health protocols
to the attendees.

F. After event advisories:

1. At the end of the event, remind the attendees to:
 Clean up area – do not leave any tissue, wipes and the like (particularly
those that were used for the mouth, nose and/or eyes);
 Take turns in leaving the venue;
 Sanitize or wash hands before leaving the venue.

2. Provide advisory to the attendees to contact health authorities/facilities or event

organizers should they develop symptoms after the event.

CHARLES BRYAN C. CARAME

Environmental Health and Sanitation Division

CC: CMO
File

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