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Tuesday, February 11, 2003
Oyson: Go for it, gov!
By Manuel N. Oyson Jr.
Counter Punch
I am not a registered voter of Cebu Province but of Cebu City. I do not openly take sides in the ensuing debate between Gov. Pablo P. Garcia and former governor Lito Osmeña on the propriety of building a Megadome for the province. But let me just say it’s about time. Cebu needs a sports dome to add to its reputation as being the trading and commercial center outside Metro Manila.
Note that I did not mention sports. It is simply because Cebu has been trailing its neighbors in sports competitions in the Palarong Pambansa, Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games. By neighbors we mean, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. When did Cebu ever win the Palarong Pambansa? Four years ago, if I am not mistaken, the Cebuanos were tops in the PNG hosted by Cebu City.
STATE-OF-THE-ART. I do not infer that if Cebu will have a Megadome, Cebuanos will eventually benefit from it and rise in the sports world. The Megadome will simply be that: a state-of-the art venue for sporting, cultural and other events, such as concerts, religious gatherings and big-time basketball games. It will have a total floor area of 10,000 square meters and will have a seating capacity for 16,000.
Mandaue City owns the 43,185 square-meter property on where it will be built. Ample parking spaces will also be provided for. What do we have at present? The Cebu Coliseum, USC Gym, Aznar Coliseum and the Mandaue Sports Center. Cebu has also the Cebu City Sports Center. But then the last is open-air and not suited for the glitterati. A Megadome is the answer.
LANDMARK. The operation of the facility, estimated to cost about P250 million, will be a joint undertaking between Cebu Province and Mandaue City. The projected site is on Ouano Ave. in Mandaue. Garcia is pushing ardently for it, despite strong opposition, notably Sen. Serge Osmeña III, who described the project as a “waste of money”.
Other critics say there is a more urgent need for basic services, like farm-to-market roads or the construction of a light rail transit system to cut across the cities of Metro Cebu. It is not merely because Garcia wants to leave a lasting legacy to Cebuanos. To us, however, it’s time Cebu adds another landmark to its name they can be proud of.
INCOME. We already have the twin bridges spanning Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City, Magellan’s Cross, The Magellan Monument in Mactan and Fort San Pedro. The Megadome will be an added boost to the tourism industry. Foremost of all pro arguments put in is that the Megadome will be an economic enterprise that will generate additional revenues to be shared by the province of Cebu and the city of Mandaue.
Projected income from rentals for the use of Megadome show facilities is P16,380,000 a year. Rentals on shops and stores within the facility will generate something like P14,664,000. Its projected total gross income for one year is P31,044,000. With operating expenses running something like P12,417,600, the Megadome will thus have a net income of P18,626,400 annually. To Governor Garcia, I say: Go for broke!
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I’m not tempted to continue on to play. I just think this is my time.” – Michael Jordan, 40, announcing his last NBA season
(February 11, 2003 issue)
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