A new surface and a longer track that meets international standards are being planned, as the city has allocated P120 million to rehabilitate the sub-standard athletic oval. However, the second bidding for the completion of the Youth Convergence and Sports Complex has failed.
City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña said this week that the renovation of the oval is proceeding after they managed to secure the funding.
“It will be of international standard,” said dela Peña of the undersized oval that currently prevents the city from hosting national track meets.
During last Thursday’s “Ugnayan,” dela Peña stated that plans for the oval have been finalized and will soon be bid out. The work will include improvements to the drainage system and the maintenance of natural grass that will allow it to be used for field events.
“We cannot place synthetic grass because of the throwing events. It will just destroy the grass,” dela Peña added.
The oval was converted into a tartan track in 2014, when it was concreted and drainage was added. A Chinese firm conducted the work, using rubber and a tar-like substance for the track. It was noted, however, that during this portion of the construction, the track’s width did not meet standards. In some areas, runners had to use the drainage section.
Moreover, the contractor created an uncemented portion of the field area where foam was to be placed for high jump and pole vault. Personnel from the Philippine Sports Commission based at Teachers Camp said this was unnecessary.
Dela Peña emphasized that all the facilities at the Baguio Athletic Bowl should be of international standard so that the city can host international events.
Work at the facility includes the addition of four tennis courts and a restaurant, which could potentially be one of the best in the city. Meanwhile, the gates have been upgraded.
However, the work has faced delays, and the completion and turnover are now expected by the end of the year instead of the previously planned July 1.
Dela Peña also mentioned that the bleachers will be extended to accommodate more viewers, and they have recently been painted.
Youth Convergence Center back on menu
Meanwhile, the stalled Youth Convergence Center in the Baguio Athletic Bowl is set to resume soon as it has been once again bidded out after the city government set about with a redesign of the structure, City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña said Wednesday.
The budget for the project has been adjusted to accommodate both the accomplishment of the previous contractors and the redesign agreed upon, which now uses more steel, according to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
The original design of the structure intended for it to be fully concrete, but the city has decided to convert the third floor of the structure with a steel-based design, which is faster to make and can still accommodate the planned basketball court without safety or structural concerns.
Magalong added that multiple contractors have already expressed their interest in taking over the project following the issues with the center’s past contractor.
According to Dela Peña, the current budget for the new contractor is P275 million, accounting for a portion of the P391 million original budget that had already been implemented.
While the construction is expected to take some time, Dela Peña said that the construction is expected to take less than two years at the longest.
The rehabilitation and improvement of the Baguio Athletic Bowl has been delayed due to the recent termination of the contract with the implementing contractor, who is also liable for three other city infrastructure projects that have also been stalled.
The Athletic Bowl repairs were scheduled for completion by December last year, but delays such as the stalled drainage diversion and the outright cessation of activity following the non-payment of multiple contracts have led to shifts in the timeframes for the implementation of said projects.
The Youth Convergence Center has been the subject of much stalling due to supposed contractor failures, leading to the filing of cases against Magalong over the project.
with reports from Angel Castillo
