ILOILO City – The Iloilo provincial government has begun a P23-million redevelopment of the Iloilo Sports Complex in La Paz district here, with all major improvement projects targeted for completion before the end of the year as part of a broader effort to upgrade facilities for athletes and the public.
The redevelopment, funded by the provincial government, covers the renovation and construction of several key facilities, including the roofing of the tennis court (P9.3 million), administration building (P7.6 million), generator set (P5 million), track oval repair (P1 million), and indoor pool water tank (P700,000).
Iloilo Sports Development and Management Office (ISDMO) chief Dr. Ma. Janelyn Fundal said the long-awaited projects became possible through the governor’s continued support.
“These facilities will bring personality to the ISDMO as we serve the clientele to the best that we could,” Fundal said.
The redevelopment follows the provincial government’s earlier repair of the sports complex’s track oval to improve safety and provide a better experience for users before reopening the facility.
The repairs came after a concerned mother drew public attention through a viral Facebook post showing damaged rubber patches on the track oval while accompanying her son, a track athlete, during training.
“When my son asked me if there are running facilities in Iloilo, I told him we have the Iloilo Sports Complex. It is being used for sports meets. He trains in track events, and I respect his discipline, so I follow his training schedule. And then we saw patches of destroyed rubber on the oval,” part of her post read.
She said the facility deserved immediate improvement to boost the confidence of athletes using it and appealed for the proper utilization of government funds.
“We can do better for athletes. My son is only here for a few days, so it doesn’t matter much to him. But it matters to my pride. I also saw athletes training on their own despite the threat of rain. They need support and a confidence boost. I hope this gets fixed. There is always a budget. It just shouldn’t be diverted,” she added./PN
