Tagum City— Two years from now, a 320 million peso state-of-the-art sports complex will rise in a 12-hectare lot across the provincial capitol of Davao del Norte to train local players to compete in the international arena.
Plans for the sports complex were unveiled in the recent celebration of the 41st Araw ng Davao del Norte by sports enthusiast senator Pia Cayetano together with governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario. The design showed a modern complex with restaurants, offices, boutiques, and features for leisure activities with sports facilities. The sports complex is expected to change Davao del Norte’s landscape, turning it into a new hub of technical advancement.
Sports is an essential part of people’s wellness and health, Senator Cayetano said, pledging to put in an initial funding of 10 million pesos for the project.
Davao del Norte sports coordinator Antonio Rafael del Rosario, son of governor, said a huge amount would be needed to finish its construction – 320 million pesos. However, he said the facility is needed to push a comprehensive sports program that will fully develop athletes in Davao del Norte. He reported that the funding for the sports complex construction would be taken from the 500 million peso loan of the provincial government from the Land Bank of the Philippines.
Our objective is to develop our players to compete in the international level, the young del Rosario said. We cannot achieve such an objective without the facility, he added.
Noting that the sangguniang panlalawigan (provincial council) has approved of the project and funding has been made available, he is optimistic that the sports complex will be ready by the first quarter of 2010 to host not only local sports matches but also regional and international competitions.
Provincial engineer Josie-Jean Rabanoz said the first phase of the construction will see the rise of the main bleacher building that will accommodate 20,000 people complete with the automatic retractable entrance portal to the sports complex.
A power house and a generator set will also be provided to back up power requirement of the sports complex and a fire fighting system based on international standards will also be put in place.
A major component of governor del Rosario’s development agenda dubbed as the RDR Wheels, the sports complex is expected to stimulate local economy, creating local jobs, boosting local enterprise and attracting tourists and sports aficionados. (PIA)
