Big biz complex beside Athletic Bowl to be built

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – A developer will set up a multi-million commercial complex here at the old site of the city orchidarium to include parking facility to recoup expenses in development of  the Athletic Bowl beside the area.

The developer will run the complex for 25 years to recoup expenses and

operate other facilities like the Athletic Bowl swimming pool, tennis court, pay-parking and other support facilities except the oval and bleacher areas.

But this will happen after two years when the facility is fully developed.

The planned development of the Baguio Athletic Bowl into a world-class sports facility is currently in the works with the city government now in the stage of completing the project details and cost estimates for the proposed multi-billion project.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the project will be ready for bidding once these requirements have been completed.

He said the project was one of the city’s ventures under the public-private partnership (PPP) concept of development.

The city council approved the terms of reference (TOR) including those cited above for the project in September 2012.

The TOR provides the parameters for the proposed development project to cost P4.3 billion and these terms were prepared by a technical working committee which the mayor formed to ensure that the proposed project will not contravene the master development plan drawn by the University of the Cordilleras for Burnham Park which the city adopted as blueprint for the development of city’s premiere park.  

As per the approved TOR, the project will cover an area of 77,257 square meters and will involve the reconstruction and installation of tartan track and oval stadium with international standards, grandstand with 4,000-5,000 seats, surrounding fence, bunker and dugout, treatment unit, lounge, business office and media room, lighting system for night games and bleachers that can accommodate 3,000 people at the same time.

It will also cover the reconstruction of the indoor swimming pool into international standards and other sports-related facilities like indoor tennis court, table tennis room, basketball court, indoor simulation golf range, convention room and sports-related shops and restaurants.

It also includes construction of parking facilities and support facilities and amenities like building as rentable spaces, accommodation facilities and others where the investor can recover investments.

“However, athletes and joggers will not be denied the privilege of using the (facility) as a jogging place and will not pay anything if they will jog in the area,” the city council said.

The terms also called for a review of the preliminary conceptual designs and selection of most advantageous design by the Athletic Bowl Development Committee, preparation of the feasibility study, presentation to the City Development Council for adoption of the finalized project with the study, presentation to the city council for approval of the finalized project with study, presentation of the Regional Development Council for approval, submission and approval of the Investment Coordination Committee.

The construction period will be for two years and upon completion of the project, the athletic oval will immediately be turned over to the city government which will continue to manage and operate the same with all income accruing to the city government.