Laoag City—Senior Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M.
Manotoc said that they have already approved the budget for the renovation of
the Marcos Memorial Stadium in Laoag City and is currently “a matter of
processing.”
The Marcos Stadium last underwent renovation and had its oval track
rubberized between 2008 and 2009, but lack of maintenance soon reduced the oval
to a cement track.
The complex now also houses the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office
(INYDO) and Sports Development Office (INSDO), and was the venue of the first
Ilocos Norte Youth Games and Ilocos Norte Children’s Games last year.
“[Renovation] has definitely been on our to-do list nang matagal na. Even I go to the Stadium sometimes, and medyo depressing nga, at kung minsan, I also ask to increase the lights kasi ‘pag gabi, medyo madilim na masyado,”
said Mr. Manotoc.
He acknowledged that quality sports facilities are key in encouraging
locals to exercise: “Ayaw mong mag-work
out kung alam mong pangit naman yung
pupuntahan mo, so we have to make sure that people have options. We have to
improve it, not only for the locals, but also if ever magho-host tayo ng event.
We really have to level up,” he added.
Ilocos Norte might be a host of the Region I Athletics Association (RIAA),
according to Mr. Manotoc’s talks with Ilocos Norte schools division superintendent
Vilma Eda, but would have a hard time catering to larger-scale or
national-level events.
Cesar de Ocampo, School of Tomorrow (SOT) Philippines senior manager of,
earlier expressed his hope for Ilocos Norte to upgrade its sports facilities, saying
that the province has high potential as a venue for the yearly National Student
Convention (NSC).
Products of the SOT curriculum and NSC include singer-actress and model
Nikki Gil-Albert, Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Doug Kramer, and
Peter Matthew Fowler, who ranked first in the May 2018 Chemical Engineer
Licensure Examination. The NSC gathers an estimated hundred schools yearly at
the chosen venue.
Mr. Manotoc assured that Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R.
Marcos is following up with national agencies and with President Rodrigo R.
Duterte with regards to the renovation. (Mizpah Grace Castro)
Comments
Post a Comment