Cayetano, other lawmakers inspect SEA Games venue at New Clark City

Lawmakers from both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday visited the sport facilities at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac that will be used for various events in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Senator Bong Go and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who also serves as chair of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee, led the tour of the lawmakers around the Aquatic Center and the Athletics Stadium —two of the many facilities to be used for the games.

BMW turns over cars to be used during the 2019 SEA Games. | @erwincolcol pic.twitter.com/9y4MDIUjDl

— GMA News (@gmanews) October 16, 2019

Inside the 20,000-seater Athletics Stadium at the New Clark City. pic.twitter.com/3XuMwytJuj

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) October 16, 2019

The New Clark City is a 9,500-hectare development situated at Capas, Tarlac where several government facilities will be established, including the 200-hectare National Government Administrative Center and the National Sporting Center.

The National Sporting Center will house the 20,000-seating capacity Athletics Stadium, the 2,000-seating capacity Aquatics Center, Athletes’ Village, and other support facilities such as banks and restaurants.

It is also in the New Clark City where the first national high school for sports will be built.

Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vince Dizon said the ultimate goal of the establishment of the New Clark City is to help decongest Metro Manila by transferring there the offices of various government agencies.

"Slowly, ililipat na ang iba't ibang agencies natin sa Metro Manila to decongest Metro Manila. Those who do not need to be in our capital can slowly move here initially as satellite and back up offices but in the future as full offices," he said.

Dizon assured that the facilities forming part of the New Clark City will not put to waste after the SEA Games are held.

"Madalas tayong tanungin, baka maging white elephant na lang ito, baka hindi magagamit. Ang lagi nating sagot, itong mga facilities na ito, hindi lang itinatayo para sa Southeast Asian Games. Ito ay plano sa masterplan ng buong New Clark City," he said.

The 30th SEA Games will be held from November 30 to December 11, 2019.