Benguet eyes faster completion of arena

THE sooner the completions of facilities at the Benguet Sports Complex, the better its chances are of hosting national sporting events.

With the recent funding of the multi-million basketball gym, the province is keen on pursuing the hosting of national events like Palarong Pambansa and the PSC-POC backed Philippine National Games.

Benguet officials led by Governor Nestor Fongwan recently had groundbreaking ceremony for the implementation of P55 million worth of infrastructure projects within the sports complex that hosted the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association last year.

Fongwan said there is P24.5 million initially released for the project allotted for its first phase.

The amount is broken down with P20 million coming from the Office of the President, P3 million from the cash incentive given to the province from the Gawad Galing Pook and another P1.5 million from the province as a counterpart.

Fongwan said the next installment will have another P17 million from Luzon hydro and another incentive from the seal for good governance with another P10 million from the fund of Senator Bong Bong Marcos.

Based on plans, a 5,000-seat gymnasium, world-class basketball gym, volleyball court and Olympic-size swimming pool will be constructed at the sports complex.

The sports complex now houses a tennis court amounting close to P900, 000 was constructed after the province hosted the annual Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association in 2011.

He said Benguet and Baguio could host national sports events like the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission National Games.