Cebu sports leaders back proposal for world class ‘sports hub’ in SRP; Mayor Rama disagrees

‘TIME RIPE FOR OLYMPIC VILLAGE’

Aworld-class Olympic Village in Cebu City ? Why not?

Leaders of the local sporting community yesterday pushed for the passage of a  proposed ordinance that would earmark  10.6-hectares of the South Road Properties (SRP) for  the future home of the “Cebu City One-Stop Sports Hub”.

The support was aired in a public hearing of the Cebu City Council.

However, SRP manager Bu Varquez said the sports hub should be located somewhere else because the SRP is supposed to be developed as an IT Zone to generate jobs for Cebuanos.

The sale of Lot  7 ,  which is  located near the Bigfoot studio and Philippine Water Resources Inc. (PWRI),  is expected to earn P1.96 billion.

“I would propose that the proponents  look at other lots.  We are concerned with the value of the SRP.  The plan for the SRP is job-generation,” Varquez told the City Council.

According to Section 3 of the proposed ordinance, 10.6 hectares would be set aside for  “a decent and an appropriate venue… to establish a stadium, gymnasium or sports arena… (where) local and international sports competitions, games, tournaments, and trainings for variety of indoor and outdoor sports” can be accommodated.

Among the sporting disciplines that the “sports hub” could possibly host include “but not limited to”: basketball, soccer, lawn tennis, badminton, bowling, shooting, fencing, swimming, track and field, cycling, volleyball, baseball, rugby, gymnastics, marathon, table tennis,boxing, athletics, football, gymnastics, dance sport, archery, darts, billiards, martial arts “and the like”.

The authors of the proposed ordinance 13-0776-2014 are Councilors Eugenio F. Gabuya Jr., Mary Ann C. delos Santos and Wendell Hanz L. Abella.

Lot 7 is one of the  sources of funds identified for Mayor Michael Rama’s proposal for a P18.9 billion budget for Cebu City next year.

In  a separate interview, Rama frowned upon the “one-stop” idea and expressed concern about the traffic it would cause.

“We must also consider that if we out all activities in one area, it may generate a lot of traffic. We can look at sports in a Mega Cebu way. Why not have other sports venues in Talisay, and Mandaue? Not all in Cebu City since travel distance is near and there is transportation available,” he told reporters.

The mayor said that a sports hub in the SRP would run counter to the reclamation land’s purpose of generating at least 80,000 jobs.

Rama said the city can wait since there is an interested party who wants to develop the San Pedro Calungsod templete site across the SM Seaside City into an area with  a stadium.

Defending the measure, Councilor Delos Santos said City Hall should not just look at the monetary benefits that it can generate from the SRP.

“This is a big thing for our constituents. Let’s not be too enterprise-thinking with the SRP. How about the less privileged? This is an opportunity that all Cebuanos, regardless of strata, can enjoy SRP. Further, since it’s a city-owned lot, we don’t need to look for other places to buy,” she said.

Supporters of the proposal said it’s about time for  Cebu City to have a world-class sporting facility considering that other regional hubs already have similar facilities.

Jonathan Guardo, former chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC), said that if this  facility is built,  Cebu City could play host to national and international sporting events.

“I have noticed the interest of national and international groups in locating their events here in Cebu but we lack the venues and facilities,” Guardo said.

He said other areas like Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, Zamboanga City and San Fernando City in Pampanga have world-class venues while Cebu City only has the Cebu Coliseum which was built in 1962.

“Nothing against the Cebu Coliseum, but Cebu City can do more. And now that we have the land, we have the opportunity to put Cebu City in the map,” said Guardo who was chairman of the Cebu Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee in 2005.

He said that many people are becoming more interested in sports and a healthier lifestyle.  Guardo noted that  the Cebu City Sports Complex, which has a rubber track frequented by joggers and people who walk to exercise, is usually filled  with people.

Edward Hayco, chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission, echoed Guardo.

He said the Cebu City Sports Center is the most visited sports center in the  country. He pointed out that there are social benefits of engaging in sports.

He cited as an example the grassroots sports program of the CCSC. Hayco said barangay officials told him that petty crimes like pickpocketing were  reduced when the program was held then  shot back up after the program.

“Having a sports hub or Olympic Village in Cebu will be an enduring and lasting legacy of the city. It will be a statement to the world that Cebu City would take up the challenge to be the sports capital of Asia,” Hayco said.

Once the land is set aside, Hayco said they can push for the establishment of a track oval in the area which the city is able to provide.

He said they can partner with private companies to establish a stadium and other components of a sports hub.

Dr. Ruel Dejano, a sports medicine specialist, also welcomed the “sports hub” proposal.

He said he looks forward to the sports hub because the present facilities in Cebu City can’t host international competitions.