P8M more needed for Lagtang gym

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay Lagtang in Talisay City is asking First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas and the Talisay City government to help fund the remaining construction works of the gymnasium in the barangay, which still needs P8 million to be completed.

City Councilor Celiapo Cabuenas, the former chairman of Lagtang, said the facility is 80 percent completed, but still needs additional G.I. sheets for roofing and materials for a concrete stage and bleachers.

To recall, the P15-million gymnasium was used by the Liberal Party for its meeting de avance last May wherein it welcomed its then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III. The gym sits on a 3,000-square-meter lot along the highway.

Unlike the city-owned sports complex in Barangay Poblacion that can only accommodate 2,000 people, the gym in Lagtang can accommodate 1,000 more. Most major sports and cultural events in the city are being held in the sports complex in Poblacion.

The first tranche of the budget for the gym came from Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano who gave P2.5 million in 2009. Gullas also donated P1 million for it, which was used for the purchase of the lot where it stands. The city government, meanwhile, gave out P1.8 million last year.

The Metro Cebu Water District also donated 1,000 cement bags in exchange of the road-right-of-way granted by the barangay for the water utility’s access to Mananga River in the mountain barangay.

 As of the moment, Cabuenas said they are improvising temporary roofs to serve as shelter for the spectators of their sports league activities that kicked off last Sunday as part of the celebration of the barangay’s annual fiesta next month.