THE repair of the rubberized oval track at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) will start as soon as the Cebu City Government completes the bidding for the project.
The City temporarily closed the CCSC on May 18, 2023 to pave the way for the renovation of the nearly three-decade-old facility located at the back of the Abellana National School along Osmeña Blvd.
Cebu City has been picked as host of the Palarong Pambansa 2024 with the CCSC serving as the main sporting venue.
City Councilor Donaldo “Dondon” Hontiveros, in an interview on Sunday, Aug. 13, said the City will award the project contract to the winning bidder on Monday, Aug. 14.
Hontiveros, committee on education, science and technology chairman and committee on youth and sports development vice chairman, said three companies participated in the bidding, but he was not able to provide their names.
He said one of the bidders built the oval track in Carcar City and the City of Naga, the other built an oval track in Bacolod City, while the final bidder constructed the oval track at the Philippine Institute of Sports Complex, or formerly known as the University of Life Theater and Recreational Arena.
The City Council approved the allocation of P53,275,161.40 for the project during its regular session last June 7.
Hontiveros said the City will shoulder the cost of renovating and improving the rubberized oval track, but it will rely on the assistance of the private sector to fix other amenities in the sports facility.
The rubberized track oval was last repaired in 2012 for P26 million.
Cebu City Sports Commissioner John Pages, in a previous interview, said the sports community will also help the City improve the CCSC.
The City is currently working on the swimming pool.
Pages previously said that around P30 million was needed to renovate the swimming pool.
Hontiveros said on Sunday that the funding for the swimming pool’s renovation came from the CCSC’s income in partnership with the private sector.
He said work on the swimming pool is expected to be completed in September or October.
Pages said the pool had not been rehabilitated since the sports center was built in 1994, when Cebu City last hosted the Palarong Pambansa.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros said he is positive that the City can achieve its target of completing all renovation and repair works by December.
Hontiveros said all the bidders vowed to meet the completion deadline after they were given a schedule of upcoming activities at the oval track.
“Ang uban niingon (sila) nga kaya, (so) kaya ra man. Kahibaw sab sila sa mga (upcoming) activities,” said Hontiveros.
(They said the deadline was doable. Anyway, they already know what’s coming up.)
Aside from hosting the Palarong Pambansa 2024 in July, Cebu City will also hold the Cebu City Olympics in February, and host the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association in May.
Hontiveros said officials and sectors involved in the Palarong Pambansa 2024 will meet on Monday to discuss plans for the grandstand and badminton area.
Hontiveros said they will also discuss the possibility of opening the oval track to the public while its renovation has not yet started. But with the announcement of the winning bidder on Monday, he said work may start within the week.
He also said it is for the safety of the users to close the facility while there are improvement works being done inside.
Income
In a previous report, the CCSC earned an average of P60,000 daily before it was closed last May 18. Around P17,500 came from the income of the oval track.
Based on the sports facility’s management data, CCSC catered to an average of 700 users per day.
Hontiveros said the CCSC’s income was used for its maintenance.
Mayor Michael Rama, in a previous interview, considered the amount to be relatively small compared to the income the City would earn once the facility reopens with improved amenities.