BAGUIO CITY– Barring any unexpected rains in the next few weeks, Baguio City will be welcoming the delegates to the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) with a brand new rubberized track on February.
Baguio Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping Jr. said that the Taiwanese consultants hired to undertake the job has started the work January 6 and that they have until February 5 to complete the task. The CARAA opens on February 6 with Baguio as host.
“This is a project long in the waiting because the Athletic Bowl complex has not received any kind of development work for the last 30 years,” Rep. Aliping said.
The three phase project has a total budgetary allocation of P115 million.
The first phase involved the modernization of the main bleachers of at the east end of the compound. The second phase was for the extension of the main bleachers as well as the concreting of the oval track. And the third involved the installation of the rubberized track.
The third phase was delayed for almost a month because of the unexpected rains in November.
“The concrete track needs to be totally dry in order for the adhesive to fully bond with the surface,” explained Engr. Louie Gacad, project engineer of contractor RUA construction which is doing the entire project.
“It will probably take the Taiwanese consultants two weeks to finish the entire job and another two weeks for the rubber compound to fully cure and adhere to the surface,” Gacad added.
“With the rubberized track, and lawned field together with the already existing Olympic size swimming pool, the city is now ready to host national events like the Palaro Games,” Rep. Alipingsaid.
Aliping added that he is working for the allocation of another P50 million to fully complete the Athletic Bowl complex.
The fourth phase will mean the construction of a modern west end bleacher stands as well as for the lighting of the oval track./Carl C. Taawan
