MANILA — If 1-Pacman Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero is to be asked, he would want the new Philippine Sports Training Center to be finished within two years.
"There is no wiggling out of this 24-month deadline. If the builders have to work 24/7, they must," Romero said in a statement.
Romero, the captain of the national polo team and the owner of NorthPort in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), based his projection on the six-month planning period and the mandated 18-month construction of the state-of-the-art and highly-scientific sports center.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved on Valentine's Day Republic Act 11214, which gives the green light for the construction of the PSTC. He formally signed the law in Malacañang on Wednesday.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is tasked to manage the center once operational.
A total of PHP3.5 billion will be allocated for the completion of the PSTC, which according to Romero, "is a small amount relative to how much our Southeast Asian neighbors have spent to build their sports training centers".
"Giving the PSC and the [Philippine Sports Academy] sufficient funding must be next on the sports agenda of Congress," he added.
He said the PSC must have sufficient powers to advance the welfare of Filipino athletes through continuing compensation, allowances, benefits, nutrition, and livelihood support.
Based on the law, the PSTC shall have sports and training facilities and amenities for at least 39 national sports associations (NSAs).
Some of the proposed facilities inside the PSTC are dormitory for athletes and coaches, baseball field, beach volleyball courts, bowling center, covered swimming and diving pool, football field, gymnastic center, track and field oval, tennis courts, velodrome, rugby pitch, sports science building among others. (PNA)
