PORTS tycoon Enrique K. Razon announced on Tuesday plans to revitalize the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, an 11-hectare sports facility built in 1934.
In a statement, the Razon Group said the redevelopment plans of the country’s national sports complex involves construction of contemporary buildings that will house modern offices and commercial areas run by smart technologies, with modern amenities and green open spaces.
Razon Group did not say how much it will spend for the whole project but said the plan is a recognition of the 82-year-old sports complex as a historic landmark and immortalizes the affinity of Filipinos for sports.
The plan includes the preservation of the structure as well as fortifying the facade. A sports museum will also be built.
The business areas are expected to compensate for the expensive and meticulous process of restoring and preserving the RMSC facade.
Razon Group said the move to transform the RMSC through a preservation and urban renewal project will enable Manila to quickly catch up with other cities in the National Capital Region that have quickly grown and modernized.
The same time the proposed plan will provide a new revenue stream for Manila, as well as create thousands of jobs.
The RMSC, however, is facing opposition from various sectors that wanted to improve the complex instead of demolishing it.
The RMSC was originally built 82 years ago in 1934. Destroyed during World War II, it was reconstructed in 1953, and renovated in 2011.
Since that time, the RMSC has not undergone any structural and facilities improvements or upgrading, rendering it virtually unsuitable and unsafe not only for training athletes, but especially for holding not only local but also international games.
Managed by the Philippine Sports Commission, the property itself is owned by the City of Manila. The City has had no income from RMSC for years now, leaving the city with no funds to modernize facilities.
With the planned RMSC redevelopment, the PSC is planning to transfer the RMSC to a different location, possibly Clark, in order to build the Philippine Olympic Village.
This new sports complex is envisioned to be a larger and more modern sports complex complete with training facilities for national athletes as well as facilities to host large sports meets.