ZAMBOANGA CITY — The construction of the PHP22-million Regional Weightlifting Training Center in this city has been completed.
Zamboanga City Councilor Elbert Atilano, who is also the Philippine Weightlifting Association vice president, on Tuesday said they are just waiting for the arrival of the equipment to start operation of the training center.
Atilano said barbells and other sporting equipment will come from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The Regional Weightlifting Training Center, a two-storey building with dormitory, kitchen, shower room, study room and others, is located inside the Mayor Joaquin F. Enriquez Jr. Memorial Sports Complex.
Construction of the training center started last year.
It was completed by a private construction firm under the supervision of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the initiative of Zamboanga City’s First District Rep. Celso Lobregat.
Atilano said the center was constructed because they consider this city as the home to weightlifting talents including the likes of Zamboangueña Hidilyn Diaz, who won the silver medal in the 53-kilogram category in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She also won the country’s first gold medal in this year’s Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Atilano said there are 100 weightlifters from this city who will benefit with the completion of the training center.
Majority of them are presently undergoing training at the weightlifting gymnasium of Diaz built in her home barangay of Mampang.