November 6, 2024
A complete overhaul of the damaged track oval at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) has been urged by a local lawmaker, following a site inspection on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. City Councilor Jerry Guardo, who chairs the city council’s committee on infrastructure, stressed that the track must be fully repaired in time for next year’s Sinulog Festival, one of Cebu’s most significant events.
Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has already given a stern ultimatum to the contractor, SBD Builders, instructing them to begin repairs by the first week of November. He warned that failure to meet this deadline could lead to the termination of their contract and the withholding of payments for the ongoing renovation, which is valued at P52 million.
Guardo, who has been actively involved in overseeing the repairs, explained that the full renovation would take at least a month. Since a new track installation typically requires four weeks, he emphasized that repairs should begin in November to ensure that the track is ready for use by the Sinulog celebrations in January. Additionally, the track’s curing period, which usually takes around two weeks, could be completed by December, allowing enough time for everything to set before the festival.
Guardo also revealed that SBD Builders had already received the necessary materials for the repair work and were merely waiting for Garcia’s approval to move forward with the project. The contract between the city and the contractor had initially only covered repairs to the damaged sections near the grandstand.
However, during a City Council executive session on October 30, Shaun Doherty of SBD Builders argued that repairs to this section were not needed. Doherty claimed that the damage to the track near the grandstand was not significant enough to warrant full repairs.
Guardo disagreed, pointing out that rubber on the rear portion of the track had degraded significantly. “We cannot settle for partial replacement,” Guardo stated, emphasizing that the track must be restored to its full functionality.
Further inspections are also needed, according to Guardo, particularly for the drainage system beneath the track and the asphalt overlay beneath the rubber surface. These elements, he explained, could affect the long-term stability of the track and should be included in the repairs.
Doherty, for his part, had previously informed the City Council that the repairs were a relatively small-scale project, covering approximately 300 to 400 square meters. However, he added that repairs would also extend to an additional 600 square meters on the grandstand side, bringing the total area of work to over 1,000 square meters.
Despite the costs, Doherty confirmed that SBD Builders had incurred significant financial losses due to delays in the repair process. Nevertheless, he said that the contractor was committed to completing the project, even at a loss.
With the Sinulog Festival fast approaching, both city officials and the contractor are under pressure to meet the repair timeline. Guardo’s recommendation for a total track overhaul has underscored the need for a comprehensive solution to ensure that the track is ready for athletes and the public well in advance of the upcoming festivities.