PSC to visit Tarlac sports site

MANILA, Philippines – PSC chairman Harry Angping said recently he will visit the 60-hectare Tarlac Recreational Park (TRP) in San Juan de Valdez, San Jose town, and check on the progress of developing the site as a training center for athletes while keeping in mind an offer by POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. to lease 50 hectares in Hacienda Luisita for the same purpose.

Through Cojuangco’s efforts, the POC received a $50,000 grant from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to design a plan for a National Training Center with the Hacienda Luisita as a possible site. Cojuangco said 50 hectares will be set aside for a 50-year lease at a giveaway cost of P1 a year.

But party-list Rep. Rafael Moreno doused cold water on Cojuangco’s plan when he called it “a plot to weaken and undermine the farmers’ legitimate claims over the contested lands.” Because of land reform and bank foreclosures, Moreno said the Cojuangcos no longer control the Hacienda.

Cojuangco said the Hacienda is just an option and also mentioned Clark Field in Angeles City as another alternative.

Angping said if the TRP is a viable location, he will suggest for Cojuangco, a former Tarlac congressman, to consider the San Juan de Valdez site as the POC training center.

“It would be a lifetime legacy for Mr. Cojuangco since after all, Tarlac is his home province,” said Angping. “I know politics will not play a role in this case. The primary consideration is to do what is best for Philippine sports.”

The TRP was conceived by Rep. Jose (Aping) Yap whose son Gov. Victor Yap has taken over the cudgels of developing the project.

Angping said it will be difficult to expect OCA to provide more funding for the project. “The OCA already gave an initial $50,000 for the refurbishing of the POC office at the ULTRA,” he said. “The OCA will go bankrupt if it gives in to the request for funding of every National Olympic Committee in Asia. Perhaps, the right thing to do is to find out if the TRP is a viable site and since the project has already taken off, we could explore the possibility of a joint undertaking.”

So far, the facilities in the TRP include a covered grandstand, outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball and sepak takraw, a diamond for softball and baseball, a football turf, a track oval with a rubberized surface provided by Mondo of Italy, an administration office, a VIP reception hall, a golf driving range with a 290-meter distance and six casitas for visiting athletes. The second phase of construction will feature an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a man-made lake for water sports, a multi-purpose hall, a BMX trail course, a shooting and archery range and possibly, a nine-hole golf course.

Last March, the TRP was the main venue for the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA), which brought in 12,000 athletes, officials and delegates from seven provinces and 10 cities. Gov. Yap said Tarlac will bid to host next year’s Palarong Pambansa with the TRP as hub.

In charge of maintaining the TRP grounds is Roger Galang, a former golf pro and caddy manager at Luisita. Galang works with a staff of seven to make sure the 35-hectare sports landscape remains in top condition.

Rep. Yap initially raised the funds for the project and PAGCOR contributed to erect the grandstand. Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile, Sen. Edgardo Angara and Sen. Miguel Zubiri have pledged to support the TRP.

“The potential of transforming the TRP into a training center for sports is enormous,” said Tarlac Vice Gov. Bogs Aganon. “We’ve already hosted the CLRAA and we’re hoping to host the next Palarong Pambansa. We’re certain if the POC and PSC visit our site, they’ll agree it makes no sense to construct another site in the same province because it would just be a waste of resources. We should just get together, maximize our resources and build on what has been started instead of spending for something new.”

In 1989, former Tarlac Gov. Mar Un Ocampo undertook a similar sports project in Tibag, San Isidro, Tarlac City. An Olympic-sized swimming pool, a tennis court with synthetic grass, a track oval, a grandstand and an outdoor basketball court were built. A multi-purpose stadium was under construction. But the project was graft-ridden. A UP study found evidence of corruption and turned over its findings to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. About P100 million had been spent for the half-finished, 10-hectare project, which was eventually abandoned. Today, the uncompleted multi-purpose stadium is home to grazing carabaos, the tennis court has disappeared under a cover of cogon, the grandstand is in a shambles and the pool – which was once used as a tilapia pond – is in a sorry state.

“We are aware of what happened in the past,” said provincial board member Carlito David. “The TRP will not suffer the same fate. Under Gov. Yap’s leadership of vision and transparency, we are confident this project will be successful.”

The TRP site sits on an elevated plane 100 meters above sea level and the air is cool in the afternoon, conducive for athletes to perform at their peak.

PAGCOR chairman Ephraim Genuino and Secretary of Education Jesli Lapus attended the opening rites of the CLRAA meet last March and were impressed with TRP’s development. Tarlac –home province of former world junior lightweight boxing champion Joselito Rivera, billiards star Django Bustamante, Asian Games equestrian gold medalist Mikee Cojuangco and pro cager Nino Canaleta –is clearly on the right track in promoting sports.