In the wake of its planned repair and rehabilitation of the pre-war Rizal Memorial football field, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has asked the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) office and athletes to move to the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City as soon as possible.

Athletics head coach Joseph Sy said there is no problem with that, but requested that the government sports agency first ensure that the facilities in Pasig will be conducive to the training of the athletes especially that they are now gearing up for the Asian Games in November.

“We don’t want to question PSC, but I hope they should check the place where we will be transferring,” Sy said Monday. “They’re asking us to immediately transfer. But have they checked if the training facilities there are still OK? I’m also concerned with the security of the athletes. Secure ba ang gamit nila dun sa mga dormitories?”

Patafa held office at the PhilSports Arena until it transferred to RMSC in 2005, and Sy said the facilities there needs renovation.

“Some parts of the oval needs to be fixed,” he said.

The PSC, in a tie-up with De La Salle, will fund the construction of the new football stadium at Rizal Memorial that is hoped to meet international standards.

The new football stadium will eat into the eight lane track oval, reducing it to a six-lane training facility.

Construction of the new stadium, estimated to cost P8 million, will start on March 19 and will continue for six months.