A facility to train national athletes will be built inside a 25-hectare lot in Barangay Ibis in the seaside town of Bagac, Bataan.
Construction is expected to start before the year ends in a donated land overlooking the West Philippine Sea, where the Philippine Sports Commission plans to put up the Philippine Sports Training Center.
“Bago matapos ang taon at ang Duterte administration, mayroon na tayong sports facility dito. You can inspire the out of school youth and the children who are in school,” said Ramirez on Tuesday via Facebook Live.
Ramirez, who celebrated his 71st birthday, talked about the construction of the Philippine Sports Training Center, when he signed a memorandum of agreement with Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia at the Oriental Bataan Hotel in Mariveles.
Bataan is set to put up the sports facility in Bagac town with a budget of P3.3 billion.
Garcia stressed the importance of the PSTC in the Province of Bataan, as it will allow athletes training for international meets to have an alternate venue.
“Ang pagtatayo ng training center ay napakaimportante sa aming lalawigan. Not only will it help national athletes, but also the people of Bataan in the development a long life and having a healthy lifestyle,” said Garcia.
For now, national athletes have three venues that can be used for training, namely the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila, the Philsports Complex in Pasig and at the Teachers’ Camp in Baguio City.
However, the RMSC and Philsports are not available as they are being used as quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients.
Joining chairman Ramirez in Mariveles were Commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Celia Kiram and Engr. Arnold Agustin and PSC national training director Marc Velasco.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, the principal author of Republic Act 11214, otherwise known as the “Philippine Sports Training Center Act,” also witnessed the signing ceremony.
