Sale of old Rizal to fund proposed Clark facilities

MANILA, Philippines - With a new training center being eyed in Clark, sports officials look at the possibility of selling the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex to get the needed funding for the construction of the planned hub in Pampanga.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia said they recently inspected the prospective site – a 50-hectare property – and found it suitable for athletes’ dormitories, gymnasium, multi-purpose hall and facilities in track and field, football, shooting, and archery, among others.

He added that exploratory talks have already commenced among the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Manila City government, which owns the nine-hectare Rizal complex, for the planned sale of the decades-old facility.

“Maganda yung lugar sa Clark, maganda yung terrain, sariwa ang hangin, walang pollution, malayo sa factory, malapit sa ilog. Talagang maganda para sa mga atleta. Sana makuha natin ito (The terrain and condition of the area in Clark are conducive for the athletes’ training. Hopefully we can get a deal for the property),” said Garcia.

They will later do some measurements on the property based on the technical specs of the sports facilities and eventually prepare a blueprint.

“Apparently, we’re ready for this project. But again the question is of course, firstly, the land. And after that the funding; saan tayo kukuha ng pera (where can we source funding) for construction?” said Garcia.

“The main source of funding we see is the sale of Rizal. Sana mabigyan tayo ng pagkakataon na magkaroon tayo ng pera with the sale of Rizal (Hope we can generate funds from the sale of Rizal),” he added.

According to the PSC chair, preliminary meetings between POC chief Peping Cojuangco and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada have been “positive.” For this to prosper, Manila should be on board as the PSC only manages the complex.

“The feedback from Cong. Peping is maganda ang outcome ng meetings, positive (there’s been positive feedback from Manila). Excited din si Mayor na makatulong sa sports and at the same time magamit rin ang Rizal sa ibang proyekto ng Manila (The Mayor is excited to help sports and at the same time use the Rizal for other city projects),” said Garcia.

He added that there were already some interested buyers, including La Salle.

Sports officials have maintained the Rizal is no longer conducive to training.

“Maganda nga na may complex sa Manila pero anong kagandahan nito kung taon-taon naman binabaha tayo, araw-araw may pollution? (It’s nice to have a complex in Manila but what’s its use if it’s always flooded, if the athletes are exposed to pollution?),” Garcia said.

He added that the PhilSports complex in Pasig – the other hub for the athletes in Metro Manila – will be maintained even if plans to relocate the training to Clark materializes.