Rehabilitation of the 22-year-old Panaad Park and Stadium has started in preparation for the province’s hosting of the next Palarong Pambansa and other sporting events.
Jose Ma. Amugod, head of the Special Programs and Concerns Division and concurrent park administrator, said the rehabilitation of the 25-ha. facility has an allocation of P300 million.
The division includes the Public Affairs, Sports Development and Panaad Park and Stadium Sections.
The project includes the retrofitting and roofing of the 9,000-seater grandstand, the bleachers section, as well as the rehabilitation of the track oval of the new rubberized surface.
Included in the rehabilitation, the first to be undertaken since its completion in 1998, are the road repair, ground development and landscaping, including the expansion of the parking area after removing the informal settlers and the gardeners’ area, Amugod said.
The project also covers construction of the perimeter fence, rehabilitation of street lights and improvement of toilets in the main grandstand as well as of the swimming pool, covered and open court and softball facilities.
Already improved were the powerhouse and the waterpipe system.
Earlier, the Capitol announced the conversion of the Animal Hub into athletes quarters with a cost of P30 million.
Amugod added that also on schedule is the construction of disaster and response coordination center, biodiversity conservation area and beach volleyball court as well as the establishment of Negros Occidental Provincial Command Center.
The Panaad hosted the Philippine Centennial Palarong Pambansa in 1998, the 2000 national Palaro, the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and other international and regional sports events, which included swimming, athletics, archery, water polo and football championships.
It has also served as the home pitch of Ceres Negros, the first AFC Cup Southeast Asian champions and three-time Philippines Football League titlist.
The Panaad Park is home to the annual Panaad Sa Negros Festival which features theme-booths of all 32 towns and cities in Negros Occidental.
It has earned the reputation of being the only stadium built within a forest in the country and the Southeast Asian regions. – ETL
