• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The first athletes’ dormitory in Bacolod City, worth P12.5 million, will be inaugurated this afternoon, March 24, at Romanito P. Maravilla Sr. National High School (RMNHS) in Barangay Estefania.
The dormitory features two separate bedrooms that could accommodate 32 athletes – 16 boys and 16 girls – with individual beds and cabinets, as well as a dining and cooking area, comfort rooms, an office, and a stockroom, the city said.
This is a home for champions, Mayor Alfredo Benitez said in a statement, adding the facility will “serve as a dedicated space for our outstanding athletes to train, rest, and excel.”
This milestone marks a significant step in Bacolod’s commitment to sports development and youth empowerment, the city stressed. The budget was sourced from the city’s Special Education Fund for 2021.
The new dorm is a stone’s throw away from the decrepit shack where the RMNHS athletes had been staying while in training, and designed to provide student-athletes with a safe and comfortable space for training and academics.
Benitez, who led the groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 20 last year, said the new facility is “one way of taking care of those who bring recognition and awareness for our city.”
RMNHS principal Gladys Cerona had said the new dormitory “is more than just bricks and mortar. It symbolizes progress and a bright future we are building together for our athletes, who bring pride to our school, division, and the city.”
The school takes pride in being “the home of champions and record holders” in the Palarong Pambansa and other sporting competitions, both local and international. | CGC
