‘Learning experience’

CEBU, Philippines — Following the controversial measurement of the newly refurbished Cebu City Sports Center’s (CCSC) rubberized oval, the Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday hoped that it would not happen again in future editions of the Palarong Pambansa.

In a press conference, DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said made it clear that the host Cebu City was given technical assistance ahead of the staging of the Palaro.

“Right from the start, our technical consultant, when the hosting was awarded to Cebu city, even during the…prior to the bidding of the hosting, yong ating mga consultants from PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) and from other accredited organizations, already visited the place and already provided technical assistance to the prospective host,” she said.

Bringas said this technical assistance included the international standard measurements and specifications.

“When the hosting was awarded to Cebu City, the meetings…technical conferences were regularly held…. There were four or three technical conferences that were held in Cebu city to make sure that they are all up to standards,” she said.

Since the start of the CCSC’s rehabilitation, Palaro’s technical consultant was already there to give assistance.

“According to our consultant, I think what happened, remember that prior to the Palaro of preparation for the Palaro, renovate ito. So merong portion na naglagay sila ng gutter, and it appears like the gutter medyo pumasok siya kaya na short yung functional track,” Bringas said.

“So, because of the gutters that were put in place because that is a requirement now, so yon, yung tinitignan ngayon kung may significant effect ba talaga yung paglagay ng gutter kaya nag-lessen yong oval track natin, less than 400 (nalang),” she added.

Bringas said that as per measurement of the contractor using a telescopic device to measure the distance of the entire oval, it appeared that the oval is just 398 instead of the standard of 400 meters.

“But prior to the layout of the tartan or the rubberized portion and the lining of the track, it was within the standard. But after, the tartan was laid down and linings were there, it appears the functional portion of the oval is only 398,” she said.

A third party will be tapped to survey the oval again using a telescopic device to verify the actual or the more accurate verification of the distance of the entire track.

Earlier, Mendel Surveying Solutions Co., owned by former athletic stars Engr. Mendel Lopez and his wife, Engr. Lorhiz Echavez-Lopez, had offered to do the survey for free, but as of press time it is still waiting for a go signal from the Cebu City government, through the Cebu City Sports Commission.

“Ms. Jeanette Obiena is representing PATAFA (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) in PSC and she's here with us and we are talking to her directly. As what Asec mentioned, I think it is best to wait for the third-party results before we can actually make further comments,” said CCSC Chairman John Pages, in the same press conference.

“This was built in 1994, this whole sports center, when we last hosted the Palaro. And what I understood was there was a German engineer who certified the specifications so we are actually quite surprised and it's possible that it's due to the lining,” he added.

With seeming lack of two meters after the technical team made its measurement prior and even after the first day of the athletics competition, all records, especially in the track events, have been put on hold.

“Because of the 398 measurement, all our records are not yet official, except for the events that are on the straight, like the 100-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles that are in straight line. Because it appears that the short of two meters could be attributed to the bends or the curves of the oval,” Bringas said.

She said it is important that this be clarified as PATAFA’s reputation is also at stake.

“Why is this so important? Because we have the PATAFA that provides the guidelines for the measurements of the oval, international standard measurements. And a consequence of the not accurate measurement of the standard oval would result to non-inclusion of the official times of our runners,” Bringas said.

“So, for example, we have a pending record now, so we could not break records if it is substandard in terms of distance…Because if we certify that they are on standard that will be PATAFA also that will be dragged into controversy and that will be a red-flag to the World Athletics Association as well. We have to protect the PATAFA in this particular case,” she added.

Aside from that, Bringas said that based on their understanding, the Cebu City Government will also fix the bends for future competitions.

“Because the issue appears to be coming from the bends diba may apat na curves tayo, so for future events para hindi tayo umabot sa mga ganitong issues, I believe that Cebu City already has plans to really fix the bends so that may still be used on other international competitions in the future,” she said.

She hoped that everyone should learn from this experience so it would not happen again in future Palarong Pambansa staging.

“We are hoping that in the next Palaro, particularly in Ilocos Norte, this will not happen again,” Bringas said.

A source told The Freeman that Laoag City already made renovations on its track oval and had it certified already, although he did not specify when the certification was secured. -