Youth Convergence Center & Sports Complex construction eyed this 2020

City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) eyes the construction of the Youth Convergence Center and Sports Complex to be in the last week of April or June this year. It will serve both as a venue for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) activities and a training center for the local athletes in Baguio City.

According to Architect Edwin Ancheta, Designer II of the Planning, Design, and Construction Division of CBAO, the project is still in its conceptualization.

“We are still in the design phase...We have to release the plans today (February 28) for the approval of the Mayor. From this day, we will be giving it a month to have it bidded out. If there are no problems after that, as early as last week of April or June, the construction will start,” Ancheta said in an interview.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that they will be exhausting half of the total budget this year to start the construction.

“Our Youth Convergence Center is a 435 Million project. Almost 200 million will be implemented this year. Magiging maganda yun... It is an indoor sports complex and at the same time facilities for our youth,” Magalong said during the Ugnayan with Mayor Benjie Magalong on February 26.

According to Ancheta, the duration of the construction will depend on the budget released each year.

“We are looking at roughly 2 to 3 years of construction. Depende kung maitutuloy ‘yung remaining pa na budget,” Ancheta added.

(We are looking at roughly 2 to 3 years of construction. It will depend on the flow of the remaining budget.)

City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Evelyn Cayat also emphasized the importance of the Youth Convergence Center and Sports Complex project to the city.

“This is a priority project. Now, it is included in the development plan and investment plan of the City,” Cayat said in an interview.

On Design and Facilities

Ancheta provided details on the project such as the layout of the building.

“All in all, there will be five floors. It’s two thousand square meters per floor. It will be located directly beside the swimming pool.  So ‘yung area na macocover niya, ‘yung front, ‘yung existing na parking space before it reaches the oval bago magcucurve papunta sa kung nasaan yung diving pool,” the architect explained.

(All in all, there will be five floors. It’s two thousand square meters per floor. It will be located directly beside the swimming pool. It will cover the front area, the existing parking space, it will reach the oval then curve through where the diving pool is.)

The architect then added that above the parking level, the first floor will be reserved for the Youth Convergence Center. The remaining three floors will be used solely for sports facility.

The Youth Convergence center will include City Development Offices, the SK Gallery, a Function Hall, a Conference Hall, an SK Federation Hall, and a research facility among others.

The remaining floors would include facilities for bowling, billiard, boxing, chess, table tennis, darts, ball room, taekwondo. It will also include a cafeteria and a gym. There will also be a roof deck basketball court.

On availability of Budget

According to Ancheta, the budget they were able to secure will prioritize the structural frames and on some of the facilities.

“Ang available na budget ay 195 Million. Yun ang initial. The bulk of the fund will already go to the structural frame. Maipreprepare na rin siguro yung area para sa Youth Convergence Center,” Ancheta clarified.

(The initial available budget is 195 million. The bulk of the fund will go to the structural frame. The area for the Youth Convergence Center will also be prepared.)

Ancheta also added that Mayor Magalong assured them that once the shell and other facilities are accomplished, the Mayor will be able to provide the next funds.

“Ang assurance naman ni Mayor, once na naaccomplish na namen yun, yung remaining na fund [will be infused]. I think the office prepared before an estimate of 480+ million for the completion of the project. ‘Yung bulk niya ngayon na yung structural frame lahat, yun yung tatayo ngayon at 195 Million. Kasi by that time siguro na meexhaust na namen yung fund na 195 M, maiinfuse na rin ni Mayor yung next na fund. Kaya tuloy tuloy yun,” the architect explained.

(The Mayor assures that once we accomplish it, the remaining fund [will be infused]. I think the office prepared before an estimate of 480 million plus for the completion of the project. So, the bulk of it will go to the structural frame, it will rise at 195 Million. Maybe by the time we exhaust the fund, the Mayor will be able to infuse the next fund. It will continue.)

For the Youth and for the Athletes

Gaudencio J. Gonzales, Sports Development Officer IV, emphasized the importance of the building in meeting the needs of both the youth and the local athletes.

“‘Yung Youth Convergence and Sports building will cater to hindi lang sa Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) activities, but most especially it will cater to our indoor sports kasi maraming tayong athletes na kailangan ng indoor facilities,” Gonzales explained.

(The Youth Convergence and Sports building will cater not only to for Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) activities, but most especially it will cater to our indoor sports because we have a lot of athletes who need indoor facilities.)

He also added that the city government was motivated by the insufficient sports facilities in the city.

“Marami tayong mga universities and mga gymnasiums pero hindi nila namemeet yung demands ng ating mga local athletes. Kaya nagplano ang city government na magkaroon ng multilevel sports building para maaccommodate yung iba pang sports events...para macover na natin yung needs nila as to training and competetion venues,” Gonzales said in an interview.

(We have a lot of universities and gynmnasiums but they are not able to meet the demands of our local athletes. That’s why the City Government planned to have a multilevel sports building to accommodate other sports events… to cover the athletes’ needs as to training and competition venues.)

by Valerie Joyce Nuval