Fernandez, Labella take up multi-million sports facility

CEBU, Philippines —Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon ‘El Presidente’ Fernandez met with Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella the other day wherein they took up various sporting matters, chief among them is the construction of a multi-million, multi-purpose building that the PSC will donate as additional training facility for the city’s athletes.

The PSC, through the efforts of Fernandez, has allocated P50 million for the construction of a training center, which was supposed to be built at the side of the Cebu City Sports Center grandstand but is now targeted to rise at the South Road Properties (SRP).

“Dondon (Hontiveros) proposed that since there is a 2-hectare allocated for sports facilities at the South Reclamation Properties, we might build it there because the Cebu City Sports Center is already too congested and another construction there is no longer advisable. Mayor Labella asked Dondon to work on its details the soonest possible time,” said Fernandez, referring to the former PBA star who is now serving as city councilor.

Fernandez, however, noted that based on the estimates of PSC engineers, the amount is only good for a three-storey building because of the cost of the foundation. 

“It is now up to Cebu City to give more funds to make it a high-rise building. Based on the estimates of PSC, P50M may not be enough because of the cost of the foundation, especially if they will build it in SRP which is a reclaimed area,” added Fernandez, a living legend in Philippine basketball.

On the other hand, Fernandez personally handed to Labella the P2.5 million cash prize of the Team Cebu City Niños for finishing second overall during the 2018 Batang Pinoy National Finals held in Baguio City.

At the same time, they signed the Memorandum of Agreement that stipulates the implementing rules and guidelines on how to disburse the money, which is basically intended for the city’s grassroots sports development program.

To be delivered by the PSC next is another P2.5 million cash reward for Cebu City for placing second in the Batang Pinoy 2019 National Finals staged in Puerto Princesa, Palawan two months ago.

The Cebu City Sports Commission now has an additional P12.5 million funding for its grassroots projects. The P10M cash was given last year for winning the overall title in the Philippine National Games (PNG).