Luistro, Marañon talk on sports complex's fate

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines  — Education Secretary Armin Luistro is expected to arrive in Bacolod today (Tuesday) and one of his agenda is to meet with Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to discuss the fate of the Paglaum Sports Complex (PSC).

Jose Ma. Valencia, the governor's chief of staff and provincial legal officer, said Luistro and Marañon will discuss the plans of the DepEd to return the management of PSC to the provincial government.

The final draft of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Negros Occidental LGU and DepEd, and Valencia commented that he is optimistic that Luistro would support Capitol in recovering the PSC.

The agreement to return the PSC is more of a "done deal" since DepEd admitted that it does not have funds to maintain the complex.

The only concession that DepEd was asking is for the construction of a two-storey classroom building that will be used by the Negros Occidental High School students, Valencia said.

The PSC was donated by the provincial government to the DepEd during the term of Gov. Rafael Coscolluela on the condition that the DepEd maintain it. At present, the Negros Occidental High School is using its facilities.

However, years of neglect has led to the deterioration of the sports complex and an increase in squatters in the area, prompting the provincial government to seek its return for breach of the conditions set in the Deed of Donation.

Valencia said the provincial government, citing this situation, has filed in court a revocation of donation. It won the case in the Regional Trial Court but the Office of the Solicitor General had elevated the case to the Court of Appeals, where it is now pending.

Aside from the squatters' houses encroaching the track oval and football field, "business squatters" are also illegally using the PSC structures and are earning money from government property, he said.

Based on the records of the Negros Occidental Government Assets Management Section, the squatter commercial establishments, stalls and residences at the PSC have reached close to 200, Valencia adding that somebody may be making money from the illegal stalls.

Valencia said that, soon after the amicable settlement is signed and the provincial government regained possession of the PSC, the Capitol will serve a Notice of Eviction to the squatters. Since this is not a residential property, they have no obligation to look for a relocation site for the squatters, he said.