New Clark City Stadium with infamous P50-million cauldron. Facebook photograb/CTTO
MANILA – At least five international groups interested in renting several facilities at the New Clark City have backed out, according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
“If not for the pandemic, five international groups would have leased the property this year,” BCDA president-CEO Vince Dizon said during his agency’s budget hearing in the Senate Monday.
The sports facilities at the NCC were constructed for the 30th Southeast Asian Games held here last year.
While Dizon did not say how much the government expected to earn from the lease of the facilities, he noted that the offers proved their “viability” contrary to fears that they would become “white elephants” after the SEA Games hosting.
It can be recalled that a number of lawmakers questioned the government’s decision to borrow P11 billion to put up the NCC facilities that enabled the Philippines to qualify to host the SEA Games, saying they may end up unutilized after the event.
“The Philippine Sports Commission is asking us if athletes can train already before the end of the year and hold Covid bubble events like the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines),” Dizon said. “It shows the viability of the facilities… These are the only globally-accredited facilities in the country.“
With the coronavirus pandemic, the Athlete’s Village and parts of the National Government Administrative Center at the NCC are used as quarantine facilities by the local government units of Pampanga and Tarlac. With media reports
