SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—At least P133.5 million will be spent by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to upgrade the sports facilities here in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said massive upgrading would have to be undertaken at sports facilities like the Remy Field and Subic Gym here in time for Subic’s cohosting of the sporting event from November 30 to December 11.
The SBMA chief said the quality of the sports venues in Subic would significantly define the SEA Games experience for delegates, as well as the general impression of how the Philippines hosted the event.
“That is why we want to make sure that our facilities will be at par with SEA Games standards,” Eisma said. “We will be hosting foreign athletes, and giving them a great venue would also mean a great tourism calling card for Subic.”
For this purpose, Eisma said the Subic agency had signed agreements with the Department of Public Works and Highways, with the SBMA as project fund source and DPWH as lead implementing agency.
Under the agreements, DPWH will prepare all the plans, designs, technical specifications and cost estimate for the building construction, as well as hire contractors for the projects. It will also provide the SBMA with project status reports from contractors to serve as bases for payment.
Remy Field, which contains a track oval, will get an upgrade with a new nine-lane track from the previous six, as well as a covered viewing stand. It will be rehabilitated at a cost of P127,805,000.
Meanwhile, the Subic Gym will get a new façade and interior upgrade at the price of P5,700,000.
Upgrading of the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center will be handled by DPWH national office, it was learned.
Despite the onset of the rainy season, Eisma said Subic preparations for the 30th edition of the biennial competition are “right on schedule.”
Along with New Clark City, Metro Manila, and the Batangas, La Union and Tagaytay cluster, the Subic Bay Freeport will be the venue for some 523 events in 56 sports fields scheduled in the 2019 SEA Games. Some 9,840 athletes from the 11 countries comprising Southeast Asia are expected to participate in the competition.
For the 16 games to be played in Subic, four SBMA-controlled and four privately held venues will be used.
The SBMA venues are Remy Field, which will be used for training and cultural presentations; Subic Bay Sports Complex for sepak takraw, beach volleyball and beach handball; Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center for muay Thai, pencak silat and table tennis; and the SBMA Boardwalk for triathlon, duathlon and modern pentathlon.
The others are Subic Bay Yacht Club for sailing and windsurfing; Kamana Sanctuary Resort for traditional boat race and canoe and kayak; Subic Bay Travelers Hotel for chess; and Acea Subic Bay resort for rowing.
Eisma said that in most venues here, the SBMA will provide lounges, practice areas, medical stations, dressing rooms, media interview areas, and even prayer rooms for use of the various sports delegations.
Subic also served as venue in the last SEA Games hosted by the Philippines 14 years ago. This was for four out of the 40 sports contested in the 1995 Games: archery, canoeing, sailing and triathlon.
For the 2019 edition of the Games, Subic, along with New Clark City, Metro Manila, and the Batangas, La Union and Tagaytay cluster, will be the venue for some 523 events in 56 sports fields.