GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Construction works will finally commence within this month for the P200 million state-of-the-art Sarangani provincial sports complex in Alabel town.
Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon said Thursday the preparatory activities were ongoing for the development of the project, which would be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
He said DPWH-Region 12 personnel led by regional director Basir Ibrahim and Sarangani district engineer Jonathan Bantug inspected earlier this week the project site located at the rear portion of the provincial capitol compound.
“The project will begin construction this February,” the governor said.
Solon said the project’s implementation was pushed by Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao through funds from the DPWH.
The governor earlier said the project would take off with the renovation of the existing provincial sports complex at the capitol compound’s oval grounds.
He said the new sports complex would feature state-of-the-art amenities for various sporting events and a dormitory that could host 400 athletes.
The local government had acknowledged that some of the facilities at the present provincial sports complex, built more than two decades ago, were already ageing and needed immediate renovation.
It cited that it lacked several necessary amenities, among them an Olympic-size swimming pool.
When it hosted the Region 12 or Soccsksargen Regional Athletic Association (SRAA) meet two years ago, the province was forced to move the swimming events to the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal City.
Solon said the completion of the facility would allow the province to host major sports competitions.
He said they could also use it as training facility for student-athletes from its seven municipalities. (PNA)
