More sports hubs to open in Baguio

OLYMPIC STANDARD DREAMS. RAJ Constructions and its Korean subcontractor install the electronic timer of the Baguio swimming pool last March 11 before the city was declared under enhanced community quarantine that stopped constructions. Here RAJ Constructions Rowland A. Julian (right) talks with his Korean sub-contractor on the installation of the electronic timer, diving board, and touchpad, while his workers assemble one of the boards. (PNA file photo)

By Pigeon Lobien 

BAGUIO CITY – Sports centers are set to open in Baguio City anytime soon as the city government started inspecting the facilities on Wednesday and where minimum health protocols are set to be observed.

With the inspection of bowling alleys, billiards, and darts halls as well as gyms, aerobics, and yoga centers, more sports-related facilities are set to open nearly three months after the city was declared under community quarantine.

“We will be inspecting the bowling alleys, darts and billiards halls, gyms and other fitness centers with the mayor (Benjamin Magalong) leading us,” said Paul Rillorta of the City Sports Office.

He said the facilities have completed their application for re-opening after the Inter-Agency Task Force (IAFT) for Emerging Disease approved that the establishments could be opened under a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting June 1.

The IATF also has allowed the opening of golf courses, tennis courts, and even swimming pools, on top of the earlier declaration that jogging, walking, running, Zumba, biking, and badminton are also allowed.

Although Baguio’s tennis courts and swimming pool remain close under different circumstances, said Rillorta.

For the Baguio Tennis Club (BTC), which manages the four courts inside the Baguio athletic bowl complex, it has yet to clear issues with the Mayor’s Office.

Representatives of the BTC met with Magalong late May before the city shifted to MGCQ to discuss the possible opening of the courts and thresh out issues with the sports office.

The club took over the management of the courts in the early 70s.

On the other hand, the city’s swimming pool also inside the athletic bowl is yet under refurnishing construction, to include installation of electronic timers, a coating for its floorings as well as the installation of a diving pool at the warm-up pools, solar heating, roofing, enclosures, and improved comfort rooms.

Its completion was postponed when the city was declared under enhanced community quarantine last March 17.

Rillorta said the inspection includes both ten pin and duckpin alleys (smaller pins and balls) with the Puyat Center at the top floor of the Baguio Center Mall (BCM) and the Saint Vincent Bowling Alley at the Saint Vincent Church compound, respectively.

But Puyat is more than a ten pin bowling alley as it also houses a billiard hall and darts corner, an electronic or technically called as soft tip darts that uses computers to check on scores, noted Rillorta. (PNA)