The Olympic sized swimming pool could now be host of any event.
This not just after it was filled with water anew but then the length had been corrected and the necessary touch pad had been placed before the end of the year.
Thanks to the pandemic, completion of work at the 50-meter pool was delayed that it was used by athletes for training especially those from the martial arts like wushu. Or an arts group led by former councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr.
During an inspection Monday, city administrator Bonifacio dela Pena said: “Finally the Baguio City Swimming pool is getting into shape and repaired. The length is corrected and now standard and measured by an accredited sports entity.”
In his Facebook post: “Liners are in-place (new), heaters and pumps (new) are tested, new electronic starting blocks and touch pads in-place.”
He added that life guards have been hired and further said: “This is for our athletes.”
Upgrade at the former warm-up pool, however, needs yet to be completed. The smaller pool has been redesigned to accommodate an area for diving and half of it had been dug and been tiled to allow diving.
During the same inspection tour, dela Pena said that the extension of the grandstand is almost complete. The additional 50-meter length could allow more seats for spectators and offices will be opened at its basement.
In his Facebook post: “The four towers for the floodlighting of the athletic oval are soon to be finished and lights soon to be energized. Soon this facility can be used at night. Thanx to DPWH BCDEO (Department of Public Works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office).”
The grandstand which had been extended by another 50 meters and four tower for the floodlights to allow use even at night. Note the grandstand is now white, originally it predominantly brown. Pigeon Lobien Photos
Built at a cost of PhP47.57 million, the 50-meter extension was inaugurated before the March 17, 2020 lockdown. Construction really took off when quarantine was eased in September 2020 with the completion to be made by September 8 of last year.
But it was pushed to another five months. Of the four towers, three are complete, while the fourth, near the Baguio City High School entrance have yet to be erected due to the difficulty of bringing the equipment there, a back hoe to dig for the construction of the base and from there the installation of the tower. The area is narrow and between the painted wall of the oval and the BCHS fence. It also has several trees – African tulip and pine trees – making it difficult to construct.
Meanwhile, the city is expected to start construction of the PhP391 million youth convergence and multi-purpose gym at the front of the Baguio swimming pool.
The biggest project at the 7-hectare sports facility has been bid out to Quezon City based M.E. Sicat Construction, Inc. which describes itself as “a leading and AAA certified constructor offering engineering solution across a wide spectrum of disciplines.”
The firm is currently undertaking design and construction of the Faculty Building of the University of the Philippines Main Campus in Diliman Quezon City and the 4-storey San Mateo College and Sports Stadium in San Matero Rizal.
Groundbreaking for the convergence center is expected anytime.
