Hontiveros eyes sports facility at South Road Properties

CEBU, Philippines — To address the lack of facilities for sports events, the Cebu City government is eyeing to construct a multi-disciplinary sports facility at the South Road Properties (SRP).

City Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros said the initial plan is to construct the facility on the two-hectare area at SRP.

“We really want to produce athletes that should be helping us internationally,” he told reporters.

Last Tuesday, the City Council approved the resolution of Hontiveros who requested Mayor Edgardo Labella to look into the viability of building a multi-disciplinary sports facility at the SRP to set as a sports facility in the south since the north district of the city has the Cebu City Sports Center.

In the approved resolution, Hontiveros said the Cebu Sports Commission aims to foster competitive and highly-skilled athletes to represent the city not only in the national sports competition but also internationally.

He said that there is an increase in the number of people who go to the Cebu City Sports Center which is the sole training facility owned by the city government that will be used by the athletes.

“There is a need for additional sports complex as training facilities for our athletes and if it is possible to be built in the South Road Properties to accommodate athletes coming from the south area,” he said in his resolution.

Hontiveros said he will discuss this matter with Labella as the city would look for funds for the establishment of the facility at the SRP.

To recall, the previous administration wanted to establish a one-stop sports hub which would include eight football fields, baseball fields, volleyball court, five tennis courts, archery, diving pool, and areas for motocross, biking, skateboarding, walking and jogging in the park, parking spaces, among others at the SRP.

But, it did not materialize because former mayor Tomas Osmeña lost to Labella in the last May 2019 elections.

Hontiveros said Labella’s administration will do its part in improving the city’s participation not only in the national sports events but also in the international arena.

Hontiveros said the current administration would not only help the regular athletes but also bring the sports programs and projects to the grassroots level.

As of now, he said there is no final details as to the perspective and the final design of the multi-disciplinary sports facility that will be constructed at the SRP. — GAN (FREEMAN)