ILLEGAL settlers, occupying a portion of of the University of Philippines in Mindanao property in Mintal, Davao City will soon be relocated to pave way for the 20-hectare P8 billion sports complex.
Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro T. Ungab said the settlers will be given a relocation area in Los Amigos "and they will be taken care of."
Ungab also assured the state-of-the-art sports complex project will open job opportunities and "residents in the area will be given priority in hiring."
The memorandum of understanding for the development of the ambitious project was formally signed Thursday by the city government, represented by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and the state-run UPMin, represented by UP System president Alfredo E. Pascual.
The signing was also graced by Representative Ungab, UPMin officer-in-charge Dr. Nilo B. Oponda, City Administrator lawyer Melchor V. Quitain, and UP vice president for development Professor Elvira A. Zamora.
"We are forging a promising partnership for the development of a 20 hectare sports complex in UP Mindanao. While this seems like an ambitious project, with the solid partner of UP, which is the city government of Davao we are certain that we can succeed in implementing this project," Pascual said.
Duterte said: "What we really need is space for the children and their recreation and there was an offer from UP that you can use this land. Ako naman ay may ma-offer na 18 hectares para sa mga displaced persons. As a matter of fact I am also building a disaster evacuation center. These are meant to be for everybody. Even kayong mga taga UP, if you want to immerse there among the people, you can learn from there what ails our country."
The proposed sports complex will comprise of the following: 35,000-seater stadium; multi-purpose training gym; dormitory and medical building; low rise commercial block; commercial block and recreation; parking building; power house and pump house; practice fields for football; tennis court; sports arena; archery and practical shooting range; indoor basketball; adventure sports; waste management and water treatment facility; aquatics center; country club, and parking area.
The initial budget for the first phase of the development is P300 million which will be utilized for oval and road construction, stadium, dormitory and medical building.
"We have designed it in such a way na ready na sya for Palaro and other professional events," said UP Architect, Mary Catherine Diaz.
The sports complex is also designed for international events such as FIFA World Cup and NBA Games as it meets the standards of international courts.
"I think it will not just symbolize the development of Davao but it will boost the morale of the local people" Diaz said.