Philsoc opts to keep old Rizal timer

Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc) officials decided to keep the 14-year old electronic scoreboard at the Rizal Memorial track oval.

Instead of buying a new one worth at least P40 million, officials yesterday said they’d just have the old electronic scoreboard or timer repaired for only P5.6 million.

Richie Garcia, operations chief of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee, told mediamen that experts from Malaysia are coming over to do the repair.

The scoreboard was imported for the 1991 SEA Games but hasn’t been working for years now, leaving Philsoc with the choice: buy a new one or have it repaired.

Garcia said the repair would be done in mid-October by technicians from Malaysian-based firm Industronics, which provided the Berhart scoreboard.

The Philsoc official said the main shell of the scoreboard would have to undergo a facelift and the scoreboard’s vital organs replaced.

"Of course, it’s still a black and white scoreboard unlike the new ones which are colored and full-matrix.

But it would cost us from P40 to P50 million," said Garcia.

Garcia said repairs of the track oval are going on despite the delay brought about by the rains and should be over by the end of October.

The Philippine Sports Commission official added that the rubber surface has arrived from Singapore. It will be put in place as soon as the asphalt layout is completed.

The other delicate timing devices for track and field competitions will either be bought locally or imported from Singapore or Malaysia. — Abac Cordero