Cabanlas pushes for Pelaez Sports Center overhaul

THE city’s premier sports facility, Pelaez Sports Center, is falling short of public expectations due to neglect and management issues.

Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas highlighted this issue in his special report during the regular session of the 20th City Council on Monday as he lamented the deteriorating state of the sports center, citing broken seating, a damaged track oval, and sanitation concerns.

He revealed that the rubberized track led to injuries to a number of people who use the sports facility. Concerns over the steep increase in parking fees from P10 to P100 also prompted public outcry, he added.

Tracing its origins to the 1980 Palarong Pambansa, Cabanlas recounted how the sports center was initially a joint effort among the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, and the then Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS).

Under the original agreement, management responsibilities were supposed to rotate annually among the three entities. He, however, noted that the provincial government has since retained sole management of the facility.

Comparing the Pelaez Sports Center to modern facilities in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte, Cabanlas expressed frustration that a highly urbanized city like Cagayan de Oro lacks a world-class sports venue. He asserted that the provincial government may have little interest to improve the facility, as it primarily serves CDO residents rather than the province of Misamis Oriental.

With this, Cabanlas proposed reviewing the management agreement between the city and provincial governments, potentially turning over the facility’s administration to the Philippine Sports Commission for better funding and support.

He also called for a joint meeting involving the City Council, the Provincial Government, and the Department of Education to find a sustainable solution for the sports center’s rehabilitation.

“This cannot continue. If the city government is not allowed to manage and repair the facility, we should hand it over to the Philippine Sports Commission to ensure proper funding and maintenance,” Cabanlas emphasized.

The matter has been referred to the committee on sports, chaired by Councilor Kenneth John Sacala, and the committee on laws and rules, chaired by Cabanlas, for further review and appropriate action. (JAOclarit/SP/Photos by JRGalano & Vigattin Tourism)