Athletic Bowl tiff heats up; council sets terms

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The controversy over how the Athletic Bowl would be developed and whether it should remain in the hands of the government or a private developer has heated up.

The city council said it should remain free of charge and accessible to the public if its rehabilitation plan materializes and the city council should have a hand in deciding final terms of the contract for the development of the decrepit sports facility.

These were among the conditions considered by the city council while deliberating on the proposed terms of reference (TOR) for the development of the Athletic Bowl last Monday.

  

Despite the controversy generated by a city councilor’s tirade on the proposal coupled with bribery allegation, the body discussed the proposed TOR where some members acknowledged the necessity of upgrading the facility to address the sporting need of the populace albeit wanting to ensure that the deal will be done without any irregularity. 

Councilor Joel Alangsab said he favors the development of the site but wanted to ensure that athletes and joggers are accorded continued free access.

Councilor Richard Carino who heads the committee studying the TOR accepted Alangsab’s proposed amendment to include a provision ensuring that the facility will remain open to the public.

Alangsab also wanted to make sure that the city council will have a hand in the crafting and approval of the final terms of the deal even after it gives its nod to the proposed initial TOR now pending for adoption by the body.

Acting vice mayor Nicasio Aliping Jr. and Carino assured that the body will be accorded ample opportunity in drawing up the final terms based on the process to be observed before the same will be perfected.  

            

Councilor Peter Fianza however observed that the proposed TOR is inconsistent with earlier policies adopted by the city particularly Resolution No. 257 series of 2010 which he said did not direct privatization by the executive, Resolution No. 443 series of 1994 adopting the mater development plan which, Fianza said, did not mention of the plan or of the project being in accordance with the plan and Executive Order No. 224 and Resolution No. 34 series of 2004 which he said the proposed TOR runs counter to.

            

Carino explained that the body’s approval of the TOR is merely the first in the series of steps involved in the whole process of approving the project.

            

If approved by the council, the TOR will be referred to the committee and the City Development Council and a feasibility study will be conducted, the result of which will again be referred to the city council which will subject the matter to a public hearing. 

           

The approved TOR, feasibility study and the draft contract will then be referred to the Regional Development Council and the investment coordinating committee and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for approval.

           

Earlier, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the TOR for the proposed multi-billion project were formulated under legally established procedures and that all the required steps including the aspect of establishing social acceptability will be observed by the city in tackling the development plan.

            

The TORs provide 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. 

            

The mayor formed the technical committee after the city council approved a resolution in November last year giving the go signal for the rehabilitation project after the city received a proposal from a foreign company for the Athletic Bowl project.  The city also received two other proposals from local proponents.

            

The proposed development will cover the upgrading of Athletic Bowl, the tennis court and swimming pool but these will remain as city government properties along with the revenues generated from them.

The developer will also transform the city of the former city auditorium into a commercial complex and this will serve as the bread and butter of the investor.  The mayor said no trees will be affected in this site and the lake, the children’s park, Melvin Jones, orchidarium will not be touched.

            

Part of the proposal will be the installation of a monorail along the park as an added tourist attraction.

The proposed TOR created a stir after Councilor Edison Bilog through the social media network Facebook and later in a privilege speech before the city council drumbeat his opposition to the plan with allegations of bribery attempt.

            

After receiving rebuke from his colleagues over what they felt was a premature and unsubstantiated claim, Bilog later identified city tourism supervising officer Benedicto Alhambra as the culprit entailing a trade of suits from both parties.