Rehab of Palaro venue in full-blast for May opener

MANILA, Philippines - The upgrading and rehabilitation of the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center is in full swing as Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino Jr. vowed that new facilities would be in place to accommodate at least 15,000 spectators in the coming 2012 national games on May 16-10.

Of the P230 million budget for the national games, Espino set aside P150 million for the new facilities, including the construction of the south wing of the NRSCC, which only has a sitting capacity of 10,000.

Espino assured officials of the Department of Education, athletes and delegates that all additional constructions and repairs would be completed before the games opening ceremonies.

Then the Pangasinan police provincial director, Espino was named by former President Fidel Ramos as the Palaro’s Task Force Commander when Pangasinan first hosted the event in 1995.  He led the completion of the NRSCC in record time of 49 days with full support of President Ramos, a native of Pangasinan.

Espino now gets a chance to complete the original plans.

 A couple of buildings were abandoned, the grandstand was not fully completed to house a dorm for up to 2,000 delegates and officials, while two badminton courts and other minor touches are now being attended to.

As early as November, some of the venues were already being renovated.“Compared to 1995, we are happy to finish what we started,” Espino said. “Now, results will be in real time, the venues are well-prepared, and we are establishing sports academies after the Palaro.”

Built in honor of Nachong, the Ramos Sports Center has since become the site of many international, national and local sporting events, official ceremonies, regional conventions, and citizens’ gatherings. DepEd officials even went as far as consulting the Philippine Sports Commission which declared the quality of the playing venues to be of international standards. It is located in a sprawling eight-hectare area along the beachfront of Lingayen, Pangasinan’s capital.