The dream of building a new sports training center of global standards, taken for granted and shelved by past Philippine governments, is close to becoming a reality.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11214, or the Philippine Sports Training Center Act, on Feb. 14, giving hope to Filipino athletes wanting the best training facilities for years.
The PSTC, which will be established under the care of the Philippine Sports Commission, will replace the 85-year-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the outdated PhilSports Complex in Pasig City.
PSC chair Butch Ramirez is upbeat on the potential impact of the PSTC.
“This is a happy development for Philippine sports,” said Ramirez during Wednesday’s ceremonial signing at Malacañang.
Planned to be built on a 20-hectare area in Rosales, Pangasinan, the PSTC is envisioned as a state-of-the-art training center wherein facilities and amenities for majority of the sports will be constructed.
A total of P3.5 billion has been earmarked for the construction of the PSTC with the ownership, including all of its facilities and amenities, vested upon the PSC.