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PHILIPPINE Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez has announced plans to rehabilitate the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the Philsports Arena, which will come in handy when the country hosts the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
Ramirez said they have yet to meet with Foreign Affairs secretary Peter Cayetano, the appointed Chairman of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games, to discuss plans for the hosting of the regional meet.
“But with or without the meeting, we are now making preparations to rehabilitate these venues,” said Ramirez.
Priority venues to be spruced up are the bowling center, Philippine Center for Sports Medicine building, Ninoy Aquino Stadium and the Olympic swimming pool located inside the age-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
At the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, the PSC will repair the track oval, fencing center and the high-performance gym.
Due to its poor condition, the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex was considered for sale to a private developer.
Former athletes, through the Philippine Olympians Association, opposed the sale and the National Historical Institute intervened, declaring the site as a cultural heritage, preventing it from being sold.
The infrastructure rehabilitation, including the financial aspect, will fall under the care of the newly appointed PSC executive director Sannah Frivaldo.
A practicing lawyer, Frivaldo was sought by Ramirez due to her sterling track record in procurement and bidding process, owing to her long years of experience in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in various capacities.
Frivaldo, replaced another lawyer Carlo Abarques, who will join the private sector.
“Kinausap ko talaga siya na sana ay tulungan naman niya kami with the procurement, and she considered. Sinabi ko sa kanya na matagal na walang canteen para sa mga atleta, pati na rin sa uniporme at iyung mga kailangan ng atleta,” sabi ni Ramirez.
The PSC will play a major role in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games, especially in providing the venues as well as the provision of the needs of the Filipino athletes.
“There will a lot on our plate so I really need the expertise of the chief of staff to help me out,” added Ramirez, referring to Dino Badilla, who recently replaced Ronel Abrenica.
Badilla was one responsible for putting together around 10,000 student volunteers in when the Philippines hosted the SEA Games in 2005.
