DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Newly reelected Davao City Councilor Peter Lavia is seeking to advocate the construction and completion of a modern sports complex in the City in his third and final term as Councilor.
He said that the planned sports complex which was originally allotted about P150-million from a Land Bank loan that the City secured was hindered by a land dispute which involved the donor of the lot, the University of the Philippines and some residents of the land where the sports complex is to be built.
The modern sports complex was supposed to be built in a land inside UP-Mindanao campus in Mintal. A stadium, track and field oval that features a rubberized track, Olympic-size swimming pools, a gymnasium and athletes dormitory were among those planned to be part of the sports complex. The Citys only sports complex, the decrepit PTA grounds is currently being transformed into a green park.
Without a modern sports complex, the City faltered particularly in the recent Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) games where Davao with its dismal showing in the swimming event, wound up second place behind Western Visayas. Sports officials cited the lack of a 50-meter swimming pool that hindered the training of its swimmers.
City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte earlier has asked the approval of the City Council in transferring the budget for the sports complex to the expansion of the modern traffic signalization project as he is reluctant in building the sports complex on a land embroiled in a dispute.
According to Lavia, the building of the sports complex must be pursued. He is seeking to resolve the land dispute so that the construction of the facility will be unimpeded. Hopefully magiging priority natin yang sports complex sa next three years sa konseho (we will prioritize the sports complex in the next three years in this council) Lavia said.
Aside from the Sports Complex, Lavia also seeks to pursue different projects and programs for the City including sewerage, local health systems, mass housing and open skies policy. (PIA XI/RG Alama).
