Samar sports complex seen
CATBALOGAN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways in Eastern Visayas (DPWH-8) will start this year the construction of a P1.2 billion worth sports complex in Samar province.
The DPWH 8 and the Samar Provincial local government unit led the groundbreaking of the Spark Samar Sports Development Project which will rise in a 16-hectare property in Barangay Lagundi, Catbalogan City.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said the provincial government has received P185 million from the national government for the site development and construction of the initial structure.
“The complex will be a center for sports development, culture and the arts, open to all Samarnon. We will need your support for the completion of this endeavor. Let us work together for the realization of the dreams of all our Samarnon athletes and artists,” Tan said.
She added that research on the possibility of a sports complex in Samar started more than three years ago.
“Studies were made as well as consultations with various architectural firms to ensure that we find the right partner who can execute our vision for the perfect stadium,” said the governor.
The sports complex — which will include an 8,100-seat capacity stadium, culture and arts center, commercial strip, business processing outsourcing hub, residential area, arboretum, and a track oval and other athletic facilities — was designed by Architect William Ti, Jr. of WTA Architecture and Design Studio.
DPWH-8 regional director Allan Borromeo said the agency is committed to completing and supporting the project.
Maga Construction will be the contractor for the first phase of the project implementation at a total cost of P180 million, which will come from the national government outlay for this year, through the DPWH-8 to complete the East Wing of the stadium.
He added that funds for the project’s second phase 2 is already being pushed for inclusion in next year’s national budget, but he did not disclose how much it would be or who would be the contractor yet to construct either the stadium’s West Wing or the oval.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said the provincial government has received P185 million from the national government for the site development and construction of the initial structure.