By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA

Bacolod City Mayor Greg Gasataya confirmed that the construction of the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum is now 76 percent complete.

Gasataya, who inspected the coliseum yesterday, said the contractor has been given until September of this year to complete the facility in Barangay Alijis.

He said the city invited officials of the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA), including Secretary-General Associate Professor Dr. Koh Koon Teck who are currently in Bacolod for the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers, to inspect the sports facility.

The MassKara Coliseum, which can accommodate at least 12,000 people, will be a potential venue for future international sporting events.

It is designed not only to host concerts but also to serve as a convention center.

Gasataya said all necessary materials are already on site and ready for installation, including a generator, air-conditioning units and elevators.

In 2019, the city administration allocated P800 million for the construction along with an additional P50 million for the building’s facilities.

The project was funded through a P1.7-billion loan from the bank.

Gasataya said the city government is taking a comprehensive approach to hosting national and international events, adding that it is also monitoring the availability and quality of hotels and other accommodations in the city.

For his part, Teck expressed his admiration for the Bacolod MassKara Coliseum and offered several recommendations to help the city prepare for hosting international events.

Teck said Bacolod has the potential and capability to host international competitions.

“Bacolod has impressive hotels, and we are pleased with the city’s hosting of the SEABA qualifiers,” he said./MAP, WDJ