SWIMMERS now have a reason to visit the City of Naga.
The City Government opened last June 24 its new Olympic-size swimming pool at the St. Francis Ocean Park in Barangay East Poblacion.
Former City of Naga mayor Valdemar Chiong and his daughter, incumbent Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong, led the inauguration of the newly constructed facility.
The older Chiong, who was the mayor that time, said the pool was supposed to be inaugurated before the City hosted the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet last February, but it was postponed due to sudden weather
changes.
The swimming event was held at the Cebu City Sports Center instead.
But with the construction of the Olympic-size pool in Naga, Chiong said the City is now ready to host swimming competitions and even multi-disciplinary sports events such as triathlon.
Aside from the eight-lane pool, the City of Naga currently has the Enan Chiong Activity Center (ECAC) for basketball games; and the Teodoro Mendiola Sr. Sports Field and Oval in Barangay North Poblacion.
Chiong said that the City spent more than P70 million for the Olympic-size pool and the track and field oval. The pool alone cost P20 to P22 million.
Interested swimmers can use the pool for a fee of P50 during the day and P70 at night.
A 20-percent discount will be given to residents of the City of Naga, Chiong said.
When he learned about the opening of the facility, Mark Arthur Monterona, 16, said he can finally practice his swimming skills without the need to spend much.
Monterona, a resident of Barangay Inoburan, said that a lot of swimmers and even triathletes from southern Cebu are excited to go to the City of Naga just to practice at their pool.
“Sigurado gyud na nga daghan gyung mangari ana para lang magtraining (For sure, a lot of athletes will come here to train in the new pool),” he added.