The Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan has been closed down for major renovations, which is expected to take 11 months. The stadium is being rehabilitated ahead of the upcoming Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association Meet and Palarong Pambansa, which Negros Occidental will host in 2021.
The renovations are projected to cost P150 million, including repairs to the rubberized track oval costing P50 million.
Earlier, over 30 gardeners were ordered to evacuate the area as part of the renovation efforts.
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the provincial government needs to clear the area as part of the preparations.
“There is no memorandum of agreement between them and the provincial government,” the governor noted. “The province has not even charged them anything.”
Meanwhile, illegal structures were also cleared./DGB, WDJ