Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and Governor Roel Degamo are asking the Philippine Sports Commission for P46 million to upgrade the Perdices Coliseum and the Lorenzo G. Teves Memorial Aqua Center.
A statement from City Hall said this is to ensure that these facilities will pass the international standards when the City will host the 12th Association of Southeast Asian School Games slated in November 2020.
Some 2,500 student-athletes from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia will compete in athletics, swimming, badminton, volleyball, sepak takraw, table tennis, beach volleyball and basketball.
The estimated costs were based on recommendation of a team of engineers from the provincial government, PSC and the Department of Education. This is in addition to the P37 million that had been spent by the City to reclaim a portion of the Rizal Boulevard to build eight volleyball courts,
The statement said the rubberized track at the Perdices Memorial Coliseum will have to be totally replaced and other facilities must be upgraded while the aqua center will be fitted with touch pads, among other improvements.
The two officials reiterated their commitment to Department of Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones to host the annual games participated by the elite student athletes in the 10 member countries of ASEAN.
Practically all the major hotels in Dumaguete City and resorts in Dauin will accommodate the guests and their stay will prove to be a boon to the local economy as the international athletes, coaches and their supporters would spend almost P 500 million during their stay and subsequent tours of the tourism destination of the province and Central Visayas Region, the statement said. (Dems Demecillo)
br />
