Razon Group muling bubuhayin ang Rizal Memorial Coliseum

MANILA, Philippines – Kung matutuloy ang plano, ire-renovate ng bonggang-bongga ang Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) sa layuning mapreserba ang 82-year-old complex.

Sinabi ng Razon Group, nagpakita ng malaking interes sa 10-hectare property, sa isang statement na nais nilang i-revitalize” ang RMSC.

Matagal nang napapabalitang plano ng pamunuan ng Lungsod ng Maynila na i-privatize ang RMSC na itinayo noong 1934 para sa pagho-host ang Far Eastern Games.

Kahapon ay nagbigay ng mas konkretong detalye ang Razon Group sa pangunguna ni business tycoon Enrique Razon ng kanilang plano sa RMSC.

“The Razon Group has for some time now been offering to re-develop and revitalize the RMSC through a preservation and urban renewal project,” ayon sa statement.

 Iginiit ng grupo na ang planong re-developing ng complex ay hindi nangangahulugang sisirain nila ang Rizal Memorial Coliseum o ang Rizal Memorial baseball stadium.

“(The) RMSC is a sports landmark and of the close association that Filipinos have for sports, the Razon Group, in its preservation plan, will maintain as well as fortify the RMSC façade,” sabi pa sa statement.

“With this urban renewal, Manila is expected to quickly catch up with other cities in the National Capital Region that have quickly grown and modernized.  Moreover, the revitalized RMSC is expected to provide a new revenue stream for Manila, as well as create thousands of jobs,” sabi pa sa statement.

“Today, it stands derelict and a sad reminder of the Philippines’ former glory days in sports,” said the Razon Group, adding that the planned “urban renewal” of the RMSC will provide the city of Manila additional income.

Ngunit mahirap ang planong ito dahil nga-yon pa lang ay nakiki-pagnegosasyon na ang Heritage Conservation Society (HCS) at ang National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Sinabi ni Senator Manny Pacquiao na umaasa siyang hindi masisira  ang  RMSC na may malaking bahagi  sa ating Philippine sports history.

“Sayang naman (It’s a pity),” ani Pacquiao, na nagsabing hindi puwedeng puwersahin ng City of Manila ang PSC na umalis sa RMSC.

Sinabi rin ni PSC Chairman William Ramirez na walang balak ang ahensiya na alisin sa Rizal ang napakaraming atleta na naka-billet doon.