Oval under renovation

CEBU, Philippines — While there are calls for the return of the Sinulog at the Cebu City Sports Complex (CCSC), ongoing renovation works would not be finished in time for the event, which is held every third Sunday of January.

CCSC Manager Jovito Taborada, Jr. said that, in particular, the replacement rubber for the worn-out rubberized track oval has not yet arrived. He did not disclose, though, where the rubber would be coming from.

“Ongoing pa ang renovations gihapon…. Layo pa…. Ang rubber para sa oval wala pa pud niabot,” he said.

Aside from the oval, the facility’s multipurpose gym and other parts would also be refurbished in the months to come, in preparation for Cebu City’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa in July 2024.

The offices at the hallway beneath the grandstand would be fixed as well.

Taborada said that they are currently conducting a leak test of the swimming pool and would check next the oval drainage pipes.

“Dili pa uy…dili pa na mahuman by that time,” he said when asked if everything would be done before the Jan. 21, 2024 Sinulog.

He said that even if the synthetic materials for the oval have been delivered already, it would take some time for “curing”, else it would not result to a good form.

Currently, the oval has been cordoned off.

Interviewed separately, Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman John Pages also expressed the same projection.

“No, not in January,” he said when asked when the renovation would be completed.

Pages said the CCSC targeted to have it done this month, but the work started late and “will surely not be finished anytime soon”.

An insider, who requested anonymity, said holding the Sinulog at the CCSC would further delay the renovation works, which should be done as soon as possible because Cebu City is hosting other sporting events.

He said that prior to the Palaro in July, Cebu City will also hold the Cebu Citylympics in February and the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association Regional Meet in April.

Last Dec. 6, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said told the Sinulog Foundation, Inc. (SFI) that the Capitol would donate P20 million for Sinulog 2024 if the Jan. 21 Grand Parade is held back at the CCSC oval instead of at the South Road Properties.

Last Friday, Acting Mayor Raymond Garcia went to the SRP to check the venue of next year’s Sinulog and found out that there are still a lot of things to be done in the area.

Garcia, via KTV News said, it is more logical and more practical if the Sinulog is held at the CCSC.

“Kung imo lang gyung i-base sa akong nakit-an…we are just talking about today (Friday, Dec. 8)…kani atong nakit-an nga dako pa’g trabahoonon. I think the more logical and the more practical place to hold the Sinulog Grand Parade will really be in Abellana,” Garcia said.

The CCSC is also locally referred to as “Abellana” because it was built on what used to be the grounds of the nearby Abellana National School.

“But, again, this is just based on what I’ve seen now. Ato ning gitandi ang duha ka areas. Kani karon now, as you see it, versus ang Abellana, mas practical gyud and mas logical gyud ang sa Abellana,” Garcia added.

Garcia, though, clarified that he did not mean any disrespect against Mayor Michael Rama when he said those words.

Rama had always maintained that he wants the Sinulog 2024 to still be held at the SRP, just like this year, despite numerous complaints against the suitability of the venue.

Because the Sinulog this year pushed through at the SRP, 10 Cebu contingents refused to participate and instead joined the Sinulog sa Carmen, which is held a week after the Cebu City Sinulog.

“Kauban baya gyud mi ni Mayor Mike, gusto gyud ko nga ang executive and legislative will have the same direction gyud…whatever it is we have to take basta ang atoang direction is for the success of the Sinulog,” Garcia said.

“Again, kung unsa lay akong nakit-an karon, objectively…. Dili nga sa pagtan-aw sa unsay mahitabo in the coming weeks or the incoming days. Pero ang ako lang, unsay akong makita karon, if you look at the preparations, mas preferred gyud kung adto nato i-hold ang Sinulog Grand Parade didto sa Abellana,” he added.

Garcia likewise expressed concern over the remaining time to finish preparations. He admitted, though, that Engr. Ricky Dakay and his construction firm had always delivered for Cebu City when it comes to the Sinulog.

Also, aside from CCSC being renovated, another concern against holding the Sinulog in the facility is the ongoing construction of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit on N. Bacalso Ave. and on Osmeña Blvd.

City Councilor Philip Zafra, Sinulog Executive Committee chairman, said they would have a walkthrough tomorrow to check the civil works progress as part of them plotting an alternative grand parade route.

He, too, had expressed concern on the “little progress” in terms of preparations being done at the site in the SRP.  — (FREEMAN)