PSC house to rise at SRP

CEBU, Philippines — The long-idle Liga ng mga Barangay-Cebu City building at the South Road Properties (SRP) will be renovated at no cost to the Liga and transformed into the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) house under an agreement signed Wednesday.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed on July 9 at the ABC-SRP Building by ABC President Franklyn Ong, PSC Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio and PSC Commissioner Edward Hayco, with Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival witnessing the ceremony.

“We have officially signed the Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Sports Commission on the use of our ABC-SRP Building as PSC house… With PSC Chairman Gregorio’s proposal of renovating the entire building without cost to the Liga, we finally put an end to the long waiting of the ABC-SRP building to be renovated,” Ong said.

He said the project will help prepare Cebu for the 2027 Asian Beach Games and other international sporting events in 2027 and 2028, adding that “the Sugboanons will surely be excited about this as it will bring in more tourists in the Queen City of the South.”

Ong said the Liga had already transferred its offices to a location near Cebu City Hall several years ago to make its services more accessible, leaving the SRP building, which was completed in 2010, available for another purpose.

“With the opening of a new office closer to the Cebu City Hall, the plan to have this building renovated for the use of our barangays as convention center has been put on hold due to lack of funds. Now, with PSC’s involvement, it will finally serve its purpose,” he said.

Archival said the partnership would provide stronger institutional support for Cebu's sports sector.

“Kini nga panagtambayayong magtugot sa mas lig-on nga suporta alang sa atong mga atleta, coaches, sports organizations, ug sa tibuok sporting community,” Archival stressed.

He added that the establishment of the PSC house would further strengthen Cebu's position as a premier sports destination while supporting preparations for major international competitions, including the 2027 FIBA Women's Asia Cup and the 2028 Asian Beach Games.

Hayco clarified that the PSC house would serve as a new hub for sports programs and athlete development but that the PSC Regional Office in Central Visayas at the Cebu City Sports Center would continue operating.

The Freeman also learned that the LnB-ABC SRP Building will remain the property of the Liga ng mga Barangay and has not been donated to the PSC, underscoring that the agreement is a partnership for the building's use rather than a transfer of ownership.

Originally envisioned as a convention center for barangays, the facility was also seen as a potential sports hub that could generate additional income for the Liga, which primarily relies on membership fees.(CEBU NEWS)