PSC susubukan pa ring mailipat ang athletes training center sa Clark

MANILA, Philippines – Ipupursige ni PSC chairman Richie Garcia ang opsyon ng pagtatayo ng isang 50-hectare training center sa Clark Freeport sa Pampanga imbes na sa Tagaytay at Tanauan.

Ngunit ang lugar ay magiging depende sa paraan ng pagrerenta.

Ibinunyag ni Garcia na may naitakda nang pakikipagpulong ang PSC at POC sa Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) sa Miyerkules para sa posibilidad ng pagtatayo ng training hub.

Nauna nang nahinto ang usapan nang itaas ng CIAC ang renta sa P150,000 per hectare o P7.5 milyon bawat taon mula sa naunang napag-usapang P150,000.

“This isn’t a money-making project,” sabi ni Garcia. “We’ll treat it as an expense.  We don’t intend to hold events and there won’t be a gallery for spectators in the gyms.  The training hub will be strictly for athletes and our plan is to pattern it after the Olympic center in San Diego.  The venue for basketball will be like a bare warehouse with only a court. There will be a state-of-the-art gym to be shared by athletes from different sports.  We also intend to build an entertainment area for the athletes’ recreation.”

Ayon sa PSC chairman, panahon na para iligtas ang mga elite athletes mula sa nararanasang polusyon sa Metro Manila.

“Clark is ideal because there is a nearby international airport so it’s convenient for foreign athletes and coaches to visit,” ani Garcia.  “There’s no traffic to contend with at Clark.  We’ve been offered a 10 to 15-hectare property in Tanauan, Batangas and there’s also another proposed site in Tagaytay.  We prefer Clark because the environment is conducive to focused training.”

 Habang plano nilang umalis sa Metro Manila, ang nasabing 81-year-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex ay sasailalim sa major repairs.

“When it rains hard, Rizal floods,” sabi ni Garcia.  “The Ninoy Aquino Sports Center has gone underwater and we’ve changed the hardcourt twice.  It cost us P10 Million for every change.  We’re now in the process of replacing the damaged court with a portable version that can be dismantled and installed in two hours.  So when it rains, we can just pack up the court.  We’re also replacing the grass on the football field with an artificial turf.  It will save a lot of time and money as we won’t need to water the grass.  Also, if grass is underwater for two days, it won’t be the same again when dry.”

Labis na naiwanan ang Pilipinas sa labanan sa Southeast Asian Games dahil sa mga lumang training facilities.

“It’s no wonder we’re now sixth or seventh in our region,” ani Garcia. “We’re also sixth or seventh in terms of our budget for sports training.  Last year, our budget was about P800 Million while Thailand’s was the equivalent of P8 Billion.  Even a small island like Singapore with just a few athletes compared to ours had a budget of P2 Billion.  Honestly, I envy the training centers of our neighboring countries.”

 Kamakailan ay dumalo si Garcia sa isang Senate hearing para iharap ang kanyang budget para sa PSC.

Ang presentation ay tumagal lamang ng 10 minuto nang humingi ng paglilinaw si Sen. Tito Sotto.

Ang higit sa P1 bilyong pondo ay inaprubahan kung saan ang P189 milyon ay magmumula sa General Appropriations at magbibigay naman ang PCSO ng $220 milyon galing sa horseracing taxes.

Itataas naman ng PAGCOR ang kanilang monthly allocation sa PSC sa P80 hanggang P80 milyon mula sa dating P50 milyon dahil sa pagtaas ng kita sa casino.