MANILA, Philippines - While he put the ownership of the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in question, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco yesterday continued to push for its privatization.
Cojuangco said the complex, which was built in 1934 for the country’s hosting of the first Far Eastern Games, now known as the Asian Games, was donated by the family of Vito Cruz.
Vito Cruz was a former alcalde mayor of Pasay in the 1870s and one of the local leaders of Katipunan in Pasay who fought in the Spanish revolution and the Filipino-American war.
Cojuangco, however, said it was not clear if the Vito Cruz family donated the 10-hectare prime property to the national government or the city of Manila that built the complex.
The POC chief said once the ownership is established, they could begin talks regarding its sale, and the proceeds used to build a new complex outside of Metro Manila.
“Maybe we can convert it into funds to build new sports facilities. The city of Manila can also use the money. That’s my idea,†said Cojuangco.
He said the RMSC, which also hosted the 1954 Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games in 1981, 1991 and 2005, is no longer conducive to training for the national athletes.
“The number one problem is the pollution. All over the world, all sports facilities are being built outside the city. It’s getting too crowded here in the city,†said Cojuangco.
There’s no price tag yet on the RMSC, which once hosted baseball games featuring Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig as well as a Beatles concert, but it may run up to at least P5 billion.
Cojuangco, who is hoping to pursue talks with incoming Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, is looking at Clark in Pampamga or somewhere in Rizal Province as site of the new training center.
“If we can find the time then we can talk and get to some form of agreement regarding the sale of this property,†said Cojuangco yesterday.
If the ambitious plan pushes through, Cojuangco said the Rizal Memorial Stadium will be the only structure that will remain untouched.
He said this early, there’ve been feelers from prospective buyers, including one from the family of Henry Sy, the owner of the SM Group.
“One person related to SM already told us that if it would be sold they be given the chance to bid on it,†the POC chief and uncle of President Aquino said.