Did Nava change mind on sports arena project?

ILOILO CITY Councilor Plaridel Nava is now opposing the proposed construction of a P500-million Sports Arena in La Paz Plaza.

“Asta na lang to sa damgo (It will just remain a dream),” Nava said.

Nava, who is the new chairman of the Committee on Appropriations at the City Council, said the supplemental budget amounting to P35 million for the purchase of lot for the arena “will die a natural death.”

“I’ll tell you now. We will reject that. They will not get a single centavo budget for the arena,” he said.

The councilor earlier manifested support for the project as he said it is high time for Iloilo City to have a stadium that would cater to national and international tournaments.

But Nava denied that he changed his stand, saying that the sports arena is the least of their priorities compared to the problems in public markets and the slaughterhouse.

He also slammed City Mayor Jose “Joe” Espinosa III who earlier claimed that his priority is the construction of the arena.

“Waay man ko nag-change mind. Fair ko ya magtan-aw sa issue. Kun gusto, gusto ko gid may arena. Kay basketball enthusiast ako,” he said.

He said he was surprised with the huge amount of money needed for the project, considering that it still lacks a feasibility study.

“But we have more problems like the markets, the drainage, the Iloilo City Community College, the roads,” he added.

Mayor Espinosa remains hopeful that the project will push through.

“Hope dies last,” Espinosa said.

He said “politics is a process” and that Nava is the only one who manifested objection to the project.

“Basi makumbinse ta pa ang iban kung maayo man lang nga plano kay ako gapati man nga para man na sa kaayuhan sang tanan,” Espinosa said.

Nava belongs to the group of former congresswoman Pacita Gonzalez, wife of the late justice secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr.

Nava is running for vice mayor and will face fellow city councilor R Leone Gerochi, Espinosa’s running mate in the 2019 elections under the Nacionalista Party.

Nava recently led a revamp at the city council, which resulted in Councilors Gerochi and Eduardo Peñaredondo losing their committee leadership.

Peñaredondo is seeking reelection under Espinosa’s slate.

SOURCE; The Daily Guardian

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