Davao sports dome’s fate still uncertain

DAVAO CITY — Whatever will happen to the still unfinished Artica Sports Dome, supposed to be the biggest sports dome in this part of the country, remains uncertain as Mayor Rodrigo Du—terte ignores the prodding of certain sectors to proceed with the multimillion-peso project of his predecessor.

The controversial sports dome is reportedly at least 70 percent complete.

Its contractor, however, could not proceed with the construction because the city government still refuses to pay its obligations to the firm pending compliance with certain requirements.

The Commission on Audit initially reported that the P300-million project was overpriced by P57 million. It, however, retracted the statement.

Duterte, however, remains adamant to the project, not because his rival, former Mayor Benjamin de Guzman, initiated it but because it has not complied with environmental requirements.

The previous administration proceeded with the project last year despite objections from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR demanded that the city government should apply for an environmental clearance certificate but the former objected and raised the issue to the Supreme Court after the lower court rejected its petition. — Edith Regalado