The open court primarily utilized by the University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo (UPHSI) inside the UP Visayas Iloilo City campus will be transformed into a multifunctional sports facility.
A budget of P20.5 million from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) General Appropriations Acts (GAA) Fiscal Year 2024 has been earmarked for the “Construction of a Multipurpose Building in UP Visayas Iloilo City” project, according to the UPV Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (OVCPD).
The multifunctional sports facility is one of the priority initiatives of Rep. Jojo Ang of the Uswag Ilonggo party-list. UPV and Uswag Ilonggo expressed their appreciation to Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda for her assistance to push for the project.
Built in the 1950s, the facility was originally a covered court but was ravaged by a typhoon shortly after it opened. Some of the salvaged materials of the covered court were used for the construction of the UPV Little Theatre.
At present, the facility serves as a practice area for athletes and students and a space for recreational and social purposes. The area also complements the Department of Physical Education curriculum.
The project is a legacy to the university, especially in restoring the facility's original structure as a covered court with multiple functions and relevance to users.
With the court’s transformation into a multifunctional sports facility, UPV can host local and regional sports events and better prepare the university’s student-athletes for competitions. The university will also have an additional venue for events, social gatherings, and recreational activities with big crowds. (With sources from OVCPD)
