PRO-7 asked to pull cops out of Cebu City Sports Center

CEBU, Philippines — The management of Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) is asking Police Regional Office- 7 to transfer the remaining police personnel billeted at the city’s sports facility to allow the needed repairs.

The closure of CCSC for over a year now due to the COVID-19 pandemic has already taken a toll on the facility.

CCSC manager Jundel Bontuyan said the center has not been properly maintained since the start of the pandemic causing damage to the facility, especially its swimming pool. Since the city’s quarantine restrictions have been eased, Bontuyan plans to start the repair works so they can reopen to the public.

 But Bontuyan said they could not start the repair until the police personnel billeted at the center are transferred to another place. The CCSC has been used as temporary shelter for police personnel assigned to augment the city’s police force in implementing the health protocols.

Bontuyan said there are still over 100 police personnel billeted at the center. He asked the Police Regional Office-7 to transfer them to another area so they can start the repair soon.

According to him, the Olympic-size pool is now colored green because of algae. The management plans to drain the pool to repair broken tiles and to cut cost since it needs P60,000 a month for chemicals to maintain it.

He said the process has to be done slowly to prevent the nearly community from being flooded. Bontuyan said he already asked the city engineering’s office to look into the creek that has been blocked by the structures surrounding the area.

Another problem the CCSC management is facing is the lack of funds for the needed repairs and the salaries of its employees.

CCSC is self-sustaining that only the income of the facility is used for its operations and maintenance. Bontuyan said the center has not been earning for more than a year now and their savings has been depleted.—  FPL (FREEMAN)