The facility of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at the Teacher's Camp in Baguio City is almost ready to host the bubble training of combat sport teams set to compete in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam later this year.
PSC chief of staff Marc Velasco bared such development in the PSC Hour program of Radyo Pilipinas Dos on Friday, June 4.
"I could categorically say that it (Baguio facility) is around 97 or 98 percent ready. It's just that the DPWH needs to turn over the building to the PSC because technically, it's still under them," said Velasco, also the Philippine Sports Institute (PSI) national training director.
The newly-renovated PSC facility in Baguio is expected to accommodate the training of national athletes in boxing, taekwondo, karate, muay thai, kick boxing and kurash.
Velasco said PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez as well as the agency's engineering department regularly inspected the condition and integrity of the building.
"We expect it to be formally turned over maybe within the next few days or next week with the support of the Baguio LGU because they have the final permits. Once that happens, PSC will be taking control over the venue and start the process of putting the protocols in place and moving the athletes," he said.
Baguio City is just one of the LGUs that will accommodate national trainings for the SEA Games following the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the latest guidelines issued by the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) group composed of the PSC, Games and Amusement Board, and Department of Health.
Velasco said that several National Sports Associations (NSAs) have requested for endorsement to conduct their training in various LGUs.
Cycling is looking to hold its preparations in Tagaytay City, triathlon and swimming in Clark, indoor volleyball in Taguig City and martial arts in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
A number of teams have already been under bubble training such as archery in Dumaguete City, fencing in Ormoc City, weightlifting in Cebu, Bohol and Zamboanga City, sepak takraw and beach volleyball in Ilocos Norte, and canoe-kayak/dragonboat in Tacloban.