ILOILO CITY -- The new Iloilo Freedom Grandstand is expected to rise along this city’s Muelle Loney area, facing the Iloilo River before end of the year.
Architect Dolly Anne M. Zoluaga of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) said a “modern” structure will be built although it also takes cognizance of the old edifices within the area.
It will be built on the more or less 2,600 square-meter property the city government has acquired from Panay Railways, Inc.
The relocation of the grandstand will pave the way for the development of the historic Sunburst Park. The park is currently located at the back of the grandstand.
The city government has allotted PHP50 million for the construction of the grandstand, which has close to 1,000 seating capacity.
“The utilization is more optimized compared with the old one,” she said.
The plan to relocate the Freedom Grandstand was first aimed to coincide with the 50th year of the Iloilo Dinagyang Festival this January to accommodate more guests. However, due to time constraint the plan did not push through.
The grandstand has been a venue for various political activities, particularly grand rallies every during election period.
A post-war structure, Zoluaga said that based on their documentation, it only started as a small box where people gathered until eventually a structure was built to accommodate a bigger crowd. (PNA)
Photo of the proposed Freedom Grandstand courtesy of Iloilo City Planning and Development Office
