Construction of covered court in Bonuan Boquig to proceed

DAGUPAN CITY – Councilor Jose Netu M. Tamayo, chair on the committee on education of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is set to sponsor   a resolution supporting the construction of a standard covered court for use of pupils of the Bonuan Boquig Elementary School without further delay.

This was after a public hearing conducted by the education committee on January 26 attended by members of the Bonuan Boquig barangay council, the Department of Education (DepEd) and barangay folks.

Tamayo said that the barangay needs the structure where families can be sheltered in case of calamities.

“The track oval  in the area will be adjusted in such a way that it can accommodate an emergency measure and at the same time we can still make use of the oval as a track and field facility despite the fact that it is not in accordance with the standard," said Tamayo, a lawyer.

But he said there is a standard facility in Lingayen which can be used by the city's athletes for their training and practice, Tamayo said in reaction to the concern of some officials of DepEd that the covered court will sacrifice the track oval.

The Bonuan Boquig track oval is around 200 meters long which is below the standard measurement of around 400 meters. This is aside from the fact that the oval is positioned northwest rather than north south which is the standard.<!--more-->



City Planning and Development Officer Engineer Romeo C. Rosario said that the covered court measuring around 26 by 36 meters can accommodate around 1,000 people.

“This covered court was really designed as a multipurpose court, meaning it can also serve as an evacuation center by the people in Bonuan Boquig in times of calamity,” Rosario said.

Lawyer Cornelia Español, president of the Office of the Senior Citizen’s Affairs, who is from Bonuan Boquig, expressed her elation over the construction of the covered court.

“We have been dreaming of this. Finally our elementary pupils will no longer endure the heat of the sun nor get wet in the rain during every flag raising ceremony. And what is best is that ours is a standard covered court,” Español said.

City Engineer Virginia V. Rosario bared a plan of the city under Mayor Belen T. Fernandez to purchase a lot where a standard track oval will be constructed which will serve as a training ground for local athletes.

“This will assure our athletes of a better facility where they can have their training and practice,” Rosario said.

The city is presently constructing three standard covered courts. The other two - East Central Elementary School and North Central Elementary School - are nearing completion. (/CIO)