New City Gymnasium to rise in Koronadal 

October 30, 2020

The City Government of Koronadal is stepping up its infrastructure program as it breaks ground with the rise of a new multi-purpose gymnasium located right behind the New City Hall Building on Friday, October 30. 

In his message, City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena said the new building is an additional facility that will attract more clients, not only in the Province of South Cotabato but also in the entire SOCCSKSARGEN Region, who will process their transactions in a single-window system in the city. 

“This will certainly be a landmark in the City of Koronadal. A city within the city just like the Regional Center, Rizal Park, Palengke, Chinatown, Roadside, Blok Creek. The idea is to develop and make the entire city, marketable. Sanag, limpyo kag tahum while developing specific areas, mga potential tourist spots,” the local chief executive stated Friday. 

Thus, he added to expect a lot more enhancements and transformations through the Congressional, DPWH Regional and District Offices’ partnerships that will concretize infrastructure plans within the city. 

As the city is currently growing, South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Dinand Hernandez, highlighted how he toyed the idea that the government will have to spend to create job opportunities and spur economic activities. 

The congressman wants the city to have a large facility that can accommodate a crowd of five up to ten thousand so that all activities in the region are centered in Koronadal. 

“Why do we need a big convention center? Because we are the regional center. When they do all the activities, then they can invite all associations, whether government or private. Makita ninyo nga there’s a domino effect that when five to ten thousand people will come here, all restaurants and hotels diri kay mapuno. Ang potential is within our hands. We will have to do something to make this future a reality,” Cong. Hernandez expressed. 

As a result, the construction of the multi-purpose gymnasium was made possible so the government will be able to help the private sector improve their living standards when foreign associations, tourists, and other individuals stop by in the anticipated “One-Stop-Shop” city. 

This year, the city government already has the initial funding of Php 26M, of which Php 20M came from Cong. Dinand Hernandez, Php 3M from Sen. Nancy Binay, and another Php 3M from Sen. Pia Cayetano. 

Meanwhile, there is an additional Php 50M for the year 2021, and the said project is expected to be completed in 2022.