Monday, September 01, 2008 City puts off P30M repairs By Linette C. Ramos Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) will have to put off repairs on the rubberized track surface at the City Sports Center after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) turned down its request for funding.
Cebu City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem said he received a letter from the PSC last week informing the CCSC that the PSC cannot fund the repair of the 14-year-old rubberized track at this time, possibly because of the government’s expenses for the Philippine Team in the Beijing Olympics.
Instead, the PSC suggested for the City Government to shoulder the repair costs.
But since it is not included in the City’s budget, he will ask President Arroyo for help with the funding, Jakosalem said.
“We don’t know yet how much it will be because the request we made was for the PSC to repair it. But since they don’t have the resources, we will just try to get sponsors from the private sector, if City Hall also cannot provide the funds,” Jakosalem told Sun.Star Cebu.
With holes, cracks and craters on the surface of the track, he said it will be dangerous for athletes and the public to keep using it.
Last year, the Cebu City Sports Center management had the damage assessed and learned that the repairs would cost some P30 million.
The 400-meter, eight-lane track was built in 1994 yet in time for the City’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa that year. The rubberized oval has a life span of only 10 years.
“It becomes more dangerous for the public to use it because they can trip anytime and can get injured. And because they have to take extra care when running or walking on the track, they cannot perform at their best,” Jakosalem said.
Jakosalem is a member of the CCSC and the chairman of the City Council committee on sports.
Meanwhile, another councilor urged the PSC and other concerned government agencies to evaluate the government’s sports development program in the wake of the “dismal” performance of Filipino athletes in the Beijing Olympics.
Councilor Edgardo Labella proposed the resolution after hearing reports that incompetent sports managers, poor training modules and lack of appropriate equipment contributed to the poor performance of the athletes.
“While the availability of funds infers the use of modern training equipment and hiring of qualified sports managers for the honing of the skills of our athletes, still, the same must be handled by people who are competent, dedicated and most of all, above suspicion,” he said.
