Peping: Time to move out of RMSC
Moving out of the historic but overcrowded Rizal Memorial Sports Complex along Vito Cruz in Manila has become a must for members of the national pool.
This was stressed yesterday by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco who said it’s not necessary to sell the complex to put the plan in place.
“Even without the sale of the complex we will have to move our athletes,” said Cojuangco during the annual Olympic Day celebration yesterday at the University of Makati grounds.
The POC president is now looking at an area in Clark in Pampanga and one in nearby Rizal province as venue of the a new training center for the national athletes.
Cojuangco said the area in Clark, for former United States military base, even has existing sports facilities, including a dozen tennis courts and a football field.
“I’d like to see our athletes being housed in an area where the air is clean, and not in a crowded place like here in Manila,” said Cojuangco.
The other day, the former congressman from Tarlac pushed for the privatization of the 79-year-old RMSC, and part of the proceeds to be used to fund the construction of a new training center.
Cojuangco said he can’t understand why this early, some people are already questioning the plan to sell the RMSC.
“What they should understand is that it is no longer conducive for training. The area has become too polluted for our athletes with so many distractions,” he said.
“Sinisiksik na natin lahat sa isang napakaliit na lugar. By renovating our football field, our track oval got smaller,” Cojuangco added.
During the Olympic Day celebration, the POC handed out awards to individuals led by former President Fidel V. Ramos, Vice President Jejomar Binay, International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde, former PSC chairman Philip Juico, PSC commissioner Jolly Gomez and Col. Jeff Tamayo, chef-de-mission of the Philippine team to the Myanmar SEA Games in December.
Chairman Richie Garcia of the PSC also handed out awards to Mt. Everest climber Noelle Wenceslao, Milo sports executive Robbie de Vera, the Philippine dragon boat team, mediamen Joaquin Henson and Abac Cordero of The Philippine
STAR, June Navarro of Inquirer and Sports Radio, local government units Makati and Marikina, and the Philippine Tawkdondo Association.
Binay, in a very short speech, stressed the importance of sports especially for the youth. As he spoke, hundreds of students of University of Makati gathered in front of the grandstand.
“Give time to sports and give time to exercise because some people only realize its importance when they grow old. Get into sports as you grow old with the society,” said Binay.