PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines – The provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur has started to construct a modern sports complex estimated to cost some P20 million.

Provincial administrator Anthony Padayhag said Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio H. Cerilles was authorized by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to set up the 10-hectare athletic grounds, on a progressive manner, at the 80-hectare Provincial Government Center in Barangay Dao here.

Padayhag said the sports arena will later be equipped with appropriate facilities including a grandstand, athletic oval, swimming pool, archery range, soccer and baseball fields, and courts for basketball, volleyball, sepak takraw, and lawn tennis.

He said that Cerilles directed provincial engineer Antonio Laurenciana to hasten the completion of the complex which, when finished, will be one of the best of its kind in Western Mindanao.

Padayhag announced through provincial information officer Allan Molde that Cerilles will utilize the sports complex to produce skilled elementary and secondary school athletes for regional and national sports competitions.

Cerilles had earlier traced the province’s unsatisfactory performance in higher athletic derbies to the absence of a local sports arena for rigid training of athletes, Padayhag said.