City Council okays sports hub at SRP

CEBU, Philippines - s passed an ordinance that sets aside a portion of the South Road Properties for one-stop sports hub to cater local and international sports competition.

In a vote of 11-3, the council agreed to the proposal of Councilors Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Mary Ann delos Santos, and Nendell Hanz Abella to reserve 10.6-hectares of SRP lot for the one-stop sports hub.

The proponents were supported by Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Nestor Archival, Roberto Cabarrubias, Lea Japson, Alvin Dizon, and James Cuenco.

Councilors Gerardo Carillo, Noel Wenceslao, and Philip Zafra voted against the passage of the ordinance.

Members David Tumulak, Nida Cabrera, and Richie Osmeña were absent during the deliberation.

Carillo explained that said he is not against the idea of putting up a sports hub at SRP because he is a sports enthusiast, however, he said that Mayor Mike Rama once vetoed an ordinance that he and Gabuya authored for the construction of a sports complex in Sitio Kamanggahan, Guadalupe.

In fact, some of the members of the City Council have already met with Rama about it and the latter is only amenable to give three hectares.

Carillo said that the council should leave it to the mayor to identify a place in SRP that will be designated as a sports hub.

The ordinance provides technical description of the lot set aside for the sports facility. Among the description is that it should accommodate different sports like basketball, volleyball, swimming, track and field, cycling, baseball, rugby, gymnastics, among others.

The 10.6-hectare lot the council sought to be allocated for the sports facility is located near the Bigfoot Properties at the SRP.  (FREEMAN)