The long-planned establishment of a high-capacity sports center in Tagbilaran City may be nearing realization but even prior to its construction, Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso has already expressed concern over the possible traffic congestion it will cause.

According to Veloso, the proposed 6,000-capacity City Sports Center which is now being eyed for establishment near a cluster of government buildings in Barangay Dao should instead be built in the outskirts of the city to spread infrastructure development and prevent congestion.

Veloso after the City Council’s regular session on Monday suggested for the facility to be established in Barangay Cabawan which has already been pinpointed as one of the city’s next growth centers along with Tiptip and San Isidro.

“So based sa area na gi-present mura’g maximum of 700 vehicles ra ang ma-accommodate sa parking area and I think that would really pose as a problem kung duna tay 6,000 capacity na sports gymnasium,” he said.

Francis Flores, chief of the First Engineering District of the Department of the Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which is the project’s implementing agency, confirmed that an initial P20 million budget for the facility has been proposed through the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Flores said that local contractor Gail Construction was declared the winner in the bidding for the contract but the awarding was not yet made pending the approval of the GAB which was submitted from Congress to President Rodrigo Duterte last week.

According to Veloso, officials from both the province and the city during a joint session of the Tagbilaran City Sangguniang Panlungsod and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last year have pinpointed Cabawan as the site for the sports center and the new Hall of Justice to spread out the development.

“At the same time, ang road from corner going to Cabawan, going to Cortes will be developed na lapad g’yud as an alternate road. Lami unta na plano na tua mo-spread ang development didto,” he said, based on the historic joint session last year.

Veloso made his suggestions after the City Council session on Monday wherein legislators were supposed to decide on the approval of the proposed allocation of an additional lot for the sports center in Dao.

The approval was deferred however after councilors agreed to invite Flores during their regular session on Monday next week to “shed light” on the project’s details and to conduct an ocular inspection of the site in Dao.

Meanwhile, Flores noted that the construction of the facility has not started as the contract for the project was not yet awarded to the winning bidder.

“Wala pa na na award namo kay wa pa man ma-approve ang 2020 na budget. Wa ta kahibalo og ma tangtang ba, makit-an ra na nato kung ma release ang GAA (General Appropriations Act). Once na naa ang sports center na P20 million, maka-award na ta,” he said.

Duterte has until year-end to sign the GAB into law or to veto parts of the budget. If not, the government will have to reenact the 2019 budget. (AD)