By Anthony A. Araos
His look was unflinching. I saw it in the commitment of Governor Jerry Dalipog to put up the Ifugao Sports Complex (ISC) as a legacy to the people.
There was a mounting call to host the prestigious Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet in the province. Looks like that 2028 is a good opportunity to hold it here. It’s time to show the region that Ifugao is in a position to do so.
Sadly, it is now a different story. The mammoth ISC is still unfinished. The provincial board asked funding assistance to the tune of Php 1.5 billion from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for “vital” finishing works of the facility. While, provincial sports officer Manny Bitog placed the figure at Php 1.7 billion. Well, I’m inclined to see an increased budgetary allocation request of even Php 2 billion in lieu of spiraling prices of goods and services brought about by the current energy crisis.
There are road blocks to hurdle. Certain quarter are reportedly not moving an inch to realize this project. Project cost details are nowhere to be acted upon despite specifications apparently forwarded by Mr. Bitog.
If the goal is sports development, then everybody should help the governor to pursue this project in the right way. It does not help Ifugao to be in a delaying mode any further.
To save the ISC, I found the arguments of Board Member Peter Bunnag truly convincing. As a public servant, Bunnag had the foresight to push for ISC’s completion which offers great benefits to the people. These supposed benefits to the province would actually materialize if things are done right by the right individuals at the right place and at the right time.
Ifugao athletes sacrificed a lot for so many years. They even risked their lives. To be sure, the project is already awaited by many.
It is safe to conclude that Governor Dalpog- now on his third and last term, is in the twilight of his incumbency, and that time is moving fast.
So instead of eyeing the PSC for relief, knock instead at the door of a Senator as a solution to the problem. Interests will be better served if attention is focused on this manner through the General Appropriations Act of 2027 or the national budget. After all, the money of the taxpayers ends up in congressional allocation. They will still pay this hefty price of Php 1.5 billion for the ISC no matter what happens. The PSC has none and it gets its budget from congress. So this move is untenable.
Legislators like Board Member Bunnag, who is invariably known for his industry and perseverance, have enormous interest in the executive department’s implementation of well-meaning endeavors such as this because these affect the people as the intended beneficiaries of government services.
Inaction had become so odious. If the provincial government cannot finish the ISC, the people have much to fear for their sports development program is being derailed for no reason at all. From here on, the ISC is in limbo.
Obtaining this astronomical amount of funds requires energy and common sense. Moving in a rapid phase to achieve this goal requires more energy and common sense. It is a tedious task, there is a deep sense of urgency in pursuing the project and so it can be done. Nothing really else mattered to me than extending a helping hand to Governor Dalipog in securing the said funds. The Php 1.5 billion capital outlay for the ISC is not an expenditure. It is an investment.**
