The rehabilitation of major Panaad Park and Stadium venues and the construction of new facilities in Bacolod City are going full blast even as the Negros Occidental hosting of the Palarong Pambansa had been postponed tentatively in 2022.
Rehabilitation continues after it was suspended for months since March 2020 with the spike of coronavirus cases in the province and in Bacolod City, which were then placed under enhanced community quarantine status.
The provincial government has set aside P300 million last year for major works at the 25-hectare sprawling Capitol property to include the resurfacing of the rubberized track oval, additional the structures at the main stadium, repair and construction of additional structures at the bleachers side and renovation and repair of the swimming pool and the covered court.
This is in preparation for the province’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa, Public Affairs Division head, Engr. Jose Ma. Amugod, said.
The contractor resumed operations during the last quarter of 2020 when Bacolod City and the Province of Negros Occidental were place under general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine categories.
Five months after the resumption, Amugod reported to Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz that as of the period ending January 2021, rehabilitation of the rubberized track oval which covered two phases amounting to P77.4 million is already 53 percent completed.
The P9.9 million allocated for the drainage and sports accessories for the track oval is up for bidding this month, he said.
The construction of additional roofing for the main stadium, with a budget of P20.3 million, is already 40 percent complete, while rehab of the open bleachers amounting to P29.9 million is at 25 percent.
Panaad projects that have been completed 100 percent as of Jan. 31, included the improvement of perimeter fence, P4.1 million; improvement of parking area, P1.3 million; rehabilitation of street lights, P2.8 million, and improvement of the food alley, and landscaping at P1.2 million.
The repair of the swimming pool and renovation of the covered court, each with a P20 million budget, and the renovation of softball diamond for P12 million and the development of the beach volleyball court for P8.5 million, are still on process for bidding.
The total budget also includes the construction of non-sports projects such as the Provincial Command Center which will house the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office which is now 95 percent completed. It has a budget of P27.5 million.
Also underway is the Disaster and Response Coordination Center, amounting to P17.9 million and now 79 percent complete.
The construction of Negros Occidental Integrated Laboratory with a budget of P23.8 million is 42 percent and the Biodiversity Conservation Center, P14.9 million is 79 percent complete.
Also 100 percent finished are the construction of the evacuation center and warehouse and the rehabilitation of the controversial Animal Hub each with an allocation of P2 million.
Amugod reported that total expenses already incurred already totaled P297,926,600 for the 19 Panaad-based projects. – MML
