• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Bacolod City government approved an additional P50 million for the MassKara Coliseum that has been redesigned and will now double up as a convention center, Mayor Alfredo Benitez said Feb. 25.
The additional funding will come from the unobligated balances-savings of debt servicing for years 2022 to 2024 under the 20 percent development fund, as approved by the City Development Council and ratified by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Feb. 19.
“We have redesigned the MassKara Coliseum, not only to cater to sports (events) and concerts but also to double up as a convention center,” Benitez said, hence the additional funding.
He said the initial purpose of the project does not really generate economic activity, noting the limited number of sporting events and concerts, compared to conventions and big gatherings.
As per the variations approved by the CDC during its meeting Feb. 5, additional installations include operable wall partitions, worth P16.8 million; movable and retractable seats/bleachers, P13.9 million; a VIP elevator, P4.9 million; and two sets of escalator and elevator, worth P15.9 million.
The Coliseum is among the priority projects listed by the City Tourism Office in its Tourism Development Plan for 2024-2028, that was also ratified by the SP, and is eyed as one answer to the lack of accommodation establishments in this highly-urbanized city, especially for big events.
As a convention center, it could accommodate 11,450 persons, as per the revised floor plan presented during the CDC meeting presided over by Benitez.
The project, located in a 50,000 square meter property in Barangay Tangub, started on Dec. 19, 2019, and is now 70 percent complete, the city said.
Its budget of P800 million comes from the city’s loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines. | CGC
