FACILITIES at the Davao City-University of the Philippines (UP) Sports Complex, which will be used as the city hosts the 2019 Palarong Pambansa on April 27 to May 4, are guaranteed to have passed international standards.
During media briefing at UP Mindanao Friday, April 12, UP vice chancellor for administration Aurelia Luzviminda Gomez assured that the designs of the sport facilities are intended to host big sports events, both national and international.
“Our football field had been checked by Fifa (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) because its standards is designed to host at least the Asian Cup,” Gomez said.
Mikey Aportadera, Davao City’s Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge, said that aside from the football field, other facilities such as the track oval and the swimming pool underwent meticulous process during construction, thus, it was not utilized during the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet 2019 last February.
“Kadtong sa Davraa lang gani, di paagian ang football field kay wala pa daw nacheck sa Fifa (In Davraa, the football pitch had to be checked by Fifa before it was used). At least we are privilege enough to have it Davao,” Aportadera said.
He also belied rumors that the track oval at the Davao City-UP Sports Center did not pass quality standards due to uneven track.
Aportadera said that track underwent series of testing.
However, he said that athletics will be held at the University of Mindanao (UM) in Matina.
“Both oval sa UP and UM passed the standards,” Aportadera said.
Erwin Protacio, Department of Human Kinetics Association chairperson, said that the Olympic-sized swimming pool is ready to be used in the upcoming Palaro although he said that few portions of the pool are still being fixed.