Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario is reviving his plan to build a new provincial sports complex, though he is now keen on putting up a simple one that is a far cry from the modern sports facility proposed two years ago.
Speaking before the recent legislative summit, Del Rosario told members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan he hopes to put up the new Davao del Norte Provincial Sports Complex during his term. But it will cost less than the one planned earlier.
In a bid to become the sports capital of the country, the province unveiled the proposed P270-million sports complex in 2008 and targeted for completion this year.
Aside from the 10,000 capacity grandstand and bleachers, eight-lane rubberized track and field oval, Olympic-size swimming pool and other sports facilities, the original plan includes a multi-purpose building for offices, convention center, function rooms, among others.
But the project hit a snag after the global economic recession resulted in the unprecedented rise in the prices of construction materials.
Del Rosario decided to defer the project and instead put up the P225-million stimulus package to fund his project NOBLE (No Barangay Left Behind), which assured each barangay P1 million-worth of infrastructure projects during his previous term.
This time he wants to put up a modest sports complex that will serve as a venue for activities that shape the character of the youth and promote physical fitness among the Dabaonons. It will comprise an adequate grandstand, a rubberized oval and an Olympic-size swimming pool,” he told the provincial board members.
He said the sports facilities of the Panabo multi-purpose tourism, cultural and sports center and the Tagum City volleydrome could complement the facilities of the provincial sports complex once the province hosts big sporting events like the Palarong Panbansa.
The Panabo City sports center has already hosted a number of PBA games while the Tagum City volleydrome has become the official training and competition center for the national beach volleyball team.
“The most important thing is that we have a sports complex where we can undertake sports activities and attract people from outside the province, who will also patronize other amenities and destinations present in the province,” he emphasized.
He said he has no plan to compete with Mayor Rey Uy’s plan of putting up a hotel and covention center and other amenities at the new Tagum City Hall complex.
He wants those proposed facilities of the city government to benefit from big sporting events that will be held at the provincial sports complex.
The governor said the financing package for the sports complex will also include the construction of the new Sangguniang Panlalawigan building within the vicinity of the center.
