No national training center for Filipino athletes under Aquino admin

There won’t be a new national training center for Filipino athletes or a sports complex of grand proportions under the term of President Aquino.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. admitted Thursday that negotiations to build the 50-hectare facility in Clark Field, Pampanga fell through due to the high cost of rental that property owners have imposed.

READ: PSC backs out of proposed Clark nat’l training center

“I don’t see it happening under the present administration. But we will not give up, hopefully we can get the job done after next year’s elections,’’ said Cojuangco, Aquino’s uncle.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia earlier said the Clark International Airport Corporation, which owns the property, has proposed an annual rent of P150,000 per hectare or P7.5 million for 50 hectares, an amount too steep for the government sports agency.

READ: PSC happy to fund training of Rio-bound PH athletes

Cojuangco said they would immediately find a new area to put up the complex.

“Other countries have two or more training centers while the Philippines has none,’’ said Cojuangco.

The PSC has reportedly earmarked P100 million as seed money for the multibillion-peso training center where the national athletes will be housed.

The amount, which will come from the savings of the agency, would cover the planning, architectural design, permits and the construction of a few basic structures, necessities and facilities, among others.

Garcia said the agency would find other sources to finish the projected P2-billion complex, including tapping private donors and sponsors for the naming rights of the facilities.

Based on studies made by the PSC, the entire complex would be finished as fast as six months using prefabricated materials for the structures and by hiring multiple contractors.

The PSC chief said the relocation of athletes from various sports to a new training center outside of Metro Manila gained ground when the
Senate and the House of Representatives crafted a separate bill supporting its construction.