Pagtatayo ng National Sports Training Center, muling pag-uusapan

Pag-uusapang muli ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) ang mga naging pagbabago sa kasunduan upang tuluyang mapinalisa ang ninanais na pagtatayo ng isang makabago at kinakailangang National Sports Training Centeer sa loob ng Clark, Pampanga.

Sinabi ni PSC Chairman Richie Garcia na tumawag sa kanya si Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco upang sabihan na makipag-usap muli sa bumubuo sa CIAC Board upang magkapaliwanagan at malinawan ang dalawang kampo sa mga detalye at plano para sa bubuuing training center.

“I am as lost as you are,” sabi ni Garcia. “We have sat down with CIAC and POC and everybody is pleased and that the duration of the contract is upbeat. Pirmahan na lang, and then all of a sudden, biglang nagkaroon ng ibang figures doon sa agreement,” paliwanaga ni Garcia.

“We backed out. Dahil kung ganoon lang din naman, huwag na lang natin ituloy,” kuwento ni Garcia. “Then the other day, POC president Peping inform me to sit down again with CIAC to clarify certain issue including that this is not a moneymaking but a place where our national athletes could use for their training,” sabi ni Garcia.

Ipinaliwanag pa ni Garcia na hindi nakatuon sa paghahahanap ng kikitain ang pagtatayo ng plano nitong training center kundi gagastos ang pamahalaan upang mabigyan lamang nito ng magandang lugar pagsasanay at maayos na kundisyon ang mga pambansang atleta.

“A training center is not a place for competition, para lang ito sa pagsasanay at paghahanda ng ating mga atleta. Hindi tayo kikita dito kundi gagastos lang dito,” sabi ni Garcia. “Iba ito sa kung kung mayroon kang coliseum na puwede mong pagsagawaan ng event, may income iyon. But no such thing in the training center,” sabi nito.

“What is in the plan is to build a place just for training, a place for athletes to develop and train under the close eyes of the coach, eat in a conducive place and to supplement their training with good facilities,” sabi pa ni Garcia.

“No moneymaking activities mentioned, but kung merong event man, the CIAC will get a certain percentage for gross receipt. If they accept activities or other things from outside, then there should be a provision for CIAC to have a share of that particular event,” sabi pa ni Garcia.

“But for now, we will talk with the CIAC under the administration to clarify this issues. Pirmahan muna tayo dahil wala munang badyet although the PSC is willing to put up the seed money for the construction of the training center,” paliwanag ni Garcia.