ILOILO City Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo is suggesting that the proposed sports arena should be constructed at La Paz Plaza.
Peñaredondo, in an interview on August 28, said the planned site for the arena is "not so ideal."
During the regime of former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the aforementioned arena was set to be situated at the Iloilo Terminal Market.
The councilor said that there will limited parking space in the area and the construction will disturb the "transactions of the terminal."
He said that the La Paz plaza "is very much feasible" not only for the wide space it covers but also for the parking area.
"Number one, it's very much feasible because it is not one of those included in the heritage structure. Number two, you can avail of the parking space (in the) four sides of the plaza," he added.
Peñaredondo foresees the area can accommodate hundreds of cars in parking and is very accessible in an emergency situation.
"It's much wider than the Jaro plaza," he said.
In a city council regular session, the council approved a resolution allowing Mayor Jose Espinosa III to follow-up a loan agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Development Bank of the Philippines for the arena. The loan is worth P500 million.
Public perceived that the budget for the construction of the arena is expensive, however, Peñaredondo explained that the structure is "not just the ordinary gym" but would be like a "big astrodome."
The sports arena project was included in the 2017 to 2019 Annual Development Plan.
At present, they plan to present the proposal to the engineers and architects to have a proper estimation of the budget. (Carolyn Jane Abello)