Sports complex to help realize athletes’ dreams

CEBU, Philippines — A P20-million sports complex will rise on a province-owned lot in Sitio Sudlon, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, boding well for Cebu province’s dream of producing more winning athletes.

Dubbed as the Cebu Provincial Sports Complex, the facility will house two standard-size basketball courts and a gym for bodybuilders and weightlifters, among others. It is a project of the Cebu provincial government and the Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC).

The basketball courts can be converted into volleyball and futsal courts as well. The complex will also be home to a dance area, an archery area, and several offices.

Governor Hilario Davide III, who led the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, dedicated the proposed facility to Cebuano athletes.

“Mao ni atong pahinungod sa atong mga Sugbuanong atleta. I feel nga we need a place for them, a facility nga dako wherein ari sila makadula,” the governor said.

According to lawyer Ramil Abing, CPSC executive director, site development already began last week and the construction is targeted to be done by March next year. The contractor for the project is Pragmatic Development and Construction Corp.

For his part, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chief Ramon Fernandez has wel-comed the project as he sees it as a big booster to the goal of improving the performance of local athletes in national and international competitions.

“I am very happy para sa mga atleta sa probinsya nga finally they have a place to call their home and I am sure in the coming years, (because) you've been improving on your standing in different tournaments, dire-diretso na,” said Fernandez.

The Cebu province delegation finished fifth place overall in the Philippine National Games in May. In the Batang Pinoy National Championships held in Baguio City this September, the province ranked sixth overall from 10th place two years back.

Meanwhile, Davide said the facility will also serve as a venue for various sporting activities of the province and can also be used as an income-generating facility.

“Magamit pud ni sa atong provincial government alang sa atong annual nga sports fest. We look forward for the completion of this project and I'm sure nga daghan tingali malipay sa mga igsoon nato sa kalungsuran nga adunay mga dagkong kalihukan pwede ari diri,” Davide said.

“Mahimo pud ni nga income-generating kung adunay gusto mogamit o moabang nga mga pribado nga grupo for a space, pwede natong paabangan,” he added.

At the groundbreaking rites yesterday, Davide, Fernandez and Abing were joined by DepEd PESS Coordinator Nenita Jaralve, Ruby Tanjuatco of the Pragmatic De-velopment and Construction Corp., and Engr. Hector Jamora from the Provincial Engineering Office. — JMD (FREEMAN)