MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Sunday announced that it is officially cancelling the Philippine National Games (PNG) and Batang Pinoy this year.

The development was brought about by the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has already forced the agency to cancel sports events until the end of the year.

Sports events remain prohibited under the enhanced community quarantine and the general community quarantine.

READ: PUBLIC ADVISORY#PSCKeepsActiveonECQ#ProductiveTimeoutwithPSC#parasainangbayan#IAmSportsPositive pic.twitter.com/Zy8GNk7zxT

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) May 10, 2020

Meanwhile, PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez penned an open letter to Filipino athletes, encouraging them to observe safety measures and remain disciplined amid the lockdown.

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"Keep your bodies active. A lockdown imposes only on our liberties to go out and socialize. Find ways and means to keep fit in the present situation we are in," Ramirez said.

An open letter to our national athletes#PSCKeepsActiveonECQ#ProductiveTimeoutwithPSC#parasainangbayan#IAmSportsPositive pic.twitter.com/cHXrf1pvsz

— Philippine Sports Commission (@psc_gov) May 11, 2020

He also urged the athletes to "keep positive," and reminded them that they have sports psychologists available for them.

"I look forward to the day when I can see you all again in our training centers and the playing fields, continuing to chase your dreams in sports," Ramirez said. "It might be a new environment given the change that this virus has imposed on our lives, but let us all pray it is a better one."

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).