The construction of the P141.4-million Tamasak Arena in the town of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo has already been completed, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6).
Funded by the District’s Fiscal Year 2017-2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the multi-year project was undertaken by the DPWH Iloilo Second District Engineering Office in convergence with the local government unit.
The modern facility is built at the entrance of the town’s football field, which is usually used as venue for various events such as the football games of the Palarong Pambansa.
It has a total floor area of roughly 10,000 square meters and elevation of 18 meters with necessary amenities and other facilities.
According to DPWH-6 Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno, the building will provide a conducive facility for various social, sports and other activities of the town and the province as well.
“This gym can accommodate a maximum of 4,200 people, hence making this a great venue for big sports, cultural, social and other events of the province and even of the country,” he said.
She added that the building is structurally designed to provide local communities with reliable public edifice that can be utilized as venue for easy delivery of government services such as medical and dental missions, feeding programs,
recreational and wellness activities, vaccination programs, and other significant events that require huge crowd.
Other than the main structure, the project includes provision of necessary amenities such as locker rooms, comfort rooms, utility rooms, and a commercial space at the back of the gym.
“To complete the structure, we have provided outside columns (pedestal) and architectural finishes, aluminum cladding for canopy, exterior design (tubular walls), interior designs (glass railings, bleachers, and rubberized floor paint), and provision of basketball court and stage,” Oropel said.
The multi-purpose structure is named “Tamasak Arena” as a tribute to “Tamasak,” a legendary white horse which is the town’s symbol and the reason why Barotac Nuevo became a municipality.
