Smaller sports hub better for SRP, says Rama
Instead of 10 hectares, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday suggested to just build an initial three-hectare one-stop sports hub at the South Road Properties (SRP).
At yesterday’s news conference, the mayor said while he’s not against having a sports facility at the SRP he just wanted it to occupy a smaller area.
“I gave a marching order to (SRP General Manager Robert) Varquez to look for a three-hectare area and discuss, whoever are these proponents, to have this as the sports hub instead of 10 hectares,” Rama said.
During Wednesday’s public hearing called by the Cebu City Council, Varquez opposed the passage of a proposed ordinance authored by Councilors Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Mary Ann delos Santos and Hanz Abella to earmark 10.6 hectares in the SRP as a one-stop sports hub.
The mayor said the three-hectare area can even be expanded to as much as five-hectares in the future depending on the assessment including its effect on traffic.
Traffic impact
But Rama said it couldn’t be as big as 10 hectares since it may cause traffic congestion. The mayor opposed staging all sports activities in the SRP to avoid traffic.
Rama said he was told by Varquez that the three-hectare lot can still be located near the property occupied by Bigfoot Studios.
Varquez said the area is ideal since it will be along the route of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
Varquez said including the Olympic one-stop sports hub in the BRT route can encourage people not to use their cars in heading to the SRP.
Rama said he will also ask Rafael Yap, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) executive director, to conduct a traffic impact study on the proposed sports hub in the SRP.
He said SM Prime Holdings is considering to put up a multi-purpose stadium at the site of the San Pedro Calungsod templete which can also hold sports events.
Rama said the city expects the SRP to generate 80,000 jobs for Cebuanos.
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