The University of the Philippines (UP)-Davao City Sports Complex is expected to be finished in 2018 as the city aims to bid for the hosting of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa.

This was bared by former congressman Isidro Ungab, who represented his brother third district Representative Alberto "Abet" Ungab, in a phone interview with SunStar Davao Tuesday.

Ungab, who pushed for the construction of the 20-hectare P8 billion facility at the UP Mindanao in Mintal, Davao City during his term as congressman, said an assessment meeting was held Monday on the status of the sports complex and the capability of hosting the Palaro 2019.

Present during the meeting were representatives of UP Mindanao, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Education (DepEd), Office of Congressman Ungab and City Government of Davao.

The ex-solon said, "We were in unison to propose to Mayor Sara for the city to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2019. Hopefully the sports complex will be completed by 2018, para sa 2019 ready na (for it to be ready in 2019)."

He, however, said that they are first focused on a Palaro hosting although they are aware that the city has also been eyed as venue for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

He also said that the indoor multi-purpose gym is 38 percent completed while phases 1 and 2 construction of the stadium and track oval are ongoing.

"Kaluoy sa Ginoo ang atong damgo og atong pagpursige niini ma-realize na jud (It's by the grace of God that our dream of having our own sports complex will soon be realized and all our hard work to make this happen will pay off)," Isidro added.

UP Mindanao Department of Kinetics chairman Erwin Protacio, in a separate phone interview, said that in the initial assessment meeting, they found out that readiness of sports facilities for 2019 is positive.

"We proceed to the next step, talk to the mayor and present proposal to bid then prepare the bid," Protacio said.

He also said that Philippine Sports Commission chairman William "Butch" Ramirez will also meet with UP officials on Friday in Davao City to evaluate the ongoing construction of the sports complex for the 2019 SEA Games hosting.

 

Source : sunstar.com.ph

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