The Baguio Athletic Bowl’s tartan track will soon be removed and replaced with a new rubberized track that is exactly 400 meters long to conform to international standards.
City Sports Coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales said Mayor Benjamin Magalong has confirmed the planned upgrade of the tartan track, which lacks three meters that’s why the city cannot host international running events in the past.
The international standard for a competitive running track measures 400 meters with an all-weather rubberized running track.
Magalong earlier said the planned P50-million renovation of the oval will push through to correct the errors done in its construction in 2014 up to 2016.
He said the installers of the tartan were also forced to use the gutter that may endanger runners using spikes.
The track and field will be redone including the installation of proper drainage, which is a spider web-like design to prevent pooling of water at the oval, and installation of grass in the oval.
City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña said experts were consulted on how to renovate the oval track following international standards.
Meanwhile, the proposed P391-M Baguio Youth Convergence and Sports Complex earlier bid out has three possible contractors who signified their intentions. The bidding is set on Aug. 26.
The city had several consultations before the finalization of the five-story building’s design, including with the Philippine Sports Commission and its consultant architect Noel Elnar, chief architect in the building of the Clark Sports Complex used during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
With PSC’s help, the design prepared by the City Buildings and Architect Office was improved to comply with international standard. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 17, 2024
