CEBU CITY – This city is 99.9 percent ready for the Palarong Pambansa this year, acting Mayor Raymond Garcia assured.
PEOPLE wade through the flooded parking area of the Cebu City Sports Center after a heavy downpour on Monday, July 1. (Photo from MyTVCebu)
But just as Garcia assured that this city is prepared for the country’s biggest sporting event for elementary and secondary athletes, the competition’s main venue was flooded after a heavy downpour on Monday, July 1.
The canteen and offices under the grandstand of the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) were flooded. The room intended for dancesport and the facility’s parking area were also not spared by the flood.
The city has spent P25 million for the renovation of the CCSC which opened last week.
According to Jovito Taborada, last Monday’s incident was just minor flooding which was caused by a clogged downspout drainage. The clogging was caused by soil buildup due to construction works.
Taborada said the drainage has been cleaned and assured that the flooding will not happen again.
Prior to the flooding at CCSC, Garcia said the city had taken the necessary preparations for the Palaro.
“We are 99.9 percent ready. It’s just the nitty gritty details. Because if you look at the infrastructure, they are all done. We’ve been to the schools, oval of the Cebu City Sports Center, everything, infrastructure-wise, is already finished,” Garcia said.
The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas announced that more than 1,500 personnel will be deployed to secure the Palaro.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte are expected to grace the opening ceremony on July 9 at CCSC.