Politics stalling Cebu Megadome

CEBU CITY — The way is clear for the construction of a long-overdue sports complex in the Queen City of the South. But politics is threatening to abort the P250 Million project.

Gov. Gwen Garcia said the Mandaue city government is donating a 4.3 hectare property on reclaimed land for a sports stadium with a seating capacity of anywhere between 16,000 to 20,000 depending on the event.

It’s a perfect location for an arena.

"We’re ready to go," says Gov. Garcia. "The provincial government can afford to set aside P250 Million from its budget because of our surplus. We won’t be taking away from other priorities to fund the construction."

A design has been made by an architectural firm led by Basilio Valdes. The proposed stadium will not tie up traffic because there are several interlinking roads around it.

Unfortunately, Gov. Garcia is not supported by the majority in the provincial board which has to approve the budget for the construction. Her political opponents are arguing that the funds for the construction could be used instead for other priorities like health care or education. Because Gov. Garcia’s foes control the board, she is powerless in pursuing the project unless they’re persuaded to lay down their arms.

Gov. Garcia claims her opponents are afraid that such a sports complex would cement the legacy of her family in the province. She insists the objection is purely politically-motivated.

"Look at the Sydney Opera House," she notes. "People don’t remember which city administration was in power when it was built. We’re not calling the sports stadium the Garcia Megadome. We’re calling it the Cebu Megadome. My dream is to put up a world-class sports stadium in Cebu, a sports facility that will be the mecca of sports in the South. My dream has nothing to do with propagating our family name. This is not a political project. This is for our region, our province and our people."

Gov. Garcia says if the provincial board continues to stall the construction, the Mandaue city government might just withdraw its offer to donate the property and sell it instead to mall operators.

"The Mandaue city government can’t wait forever," says Gov. Garcia. "We’ve signed a memorandum of agreement for a joint undertaking where the city government will donate the land the provincial administration will build the Megadome. But if the provincial board refuses to authorize the budget, then we won’t be able to proceed."

Patrick Gregorio, chairman of the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau, says the construction of a first-class sports stadium will be a boon to tourism.

"There are many ways for the government to earn from such a project," he explains. "Take the Waterfront Hotel for example. Waterfront has a 50 plus 25-year lease on the land where it built the hotel. Government is earning a rental fee on both gross and net income every month.  It’s possible that an organization like the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) could invest in the Megadome, perhaps P30 Million, and work out a deal to manage the stadium. It could be a partnership of the private and public sectors."

Cebu Coliseum is the main sports stadium in the city and it’s due for a major overhaul. According to respected Cebu sports columnist Manny Oyson, the coliseum was inaugurated in 1962 when Flash Elorde outpointed Teruo Kosaka in an Oriental lightweight title fight and has been renovated only once since–in 1977.

The PBA All-Star Game was played at the Cebu Coliseum last Sunday and I saw for myself, how dilapidated it is. The Cebu Coliseum isn’t just ancient, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Manny whispers that the game clock was repaired three days before the All-Star Game and it would’ve stayed inoperable if only the PBA didn’t insist to fix the damage.

What Gov. Garcia’s critics refuse to appreciate is that the Megadome could serve as a great equalizer in that sports fans–regardless of social status–will enjoy the same events under the same roof. The Megadome will cater to rich and poor and those in between.

Sports is a unifying element in society. It’s a rallying point, a source of entertainment and a means of livelihood. Surely, Gov. Garcia’s worst enemies won’t deny the vital role that sports plays in nation-building.

Gov. Garcia’s political rivals are doing a huge disservice to the province by blocking her efforts to get the Megadome project off the ground.

A reliable source confides that the provincial government inherited a surplus of about P1 Billion from the previous administration, meaning there is money not only for the Megadome but for other priorities that Gov. Garcia’s opponents are championing. As Gov. Garcia points out, the funds allocated for the Megadome will not mean a decrease in the allocation for other priorities. A balanced budget means more than just reconciling figures.

Gov. Garcia deserves all-out support for the Megadome project and her misguided detractors must be exposed for their abominable efforts to curtail the progress of the province to suit a political agenda.