Game Changer: PSC and BCDA Break Ground on 5,000-Sqm Sports Center Inside Baguio's Camp John Hay
A massive new sports training facility is coming to the mountains of Baguio. The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) held a groundbreaking ceremony over the weekend for the John Hay Sports Center, a modern 5,000-square-meter multi-sport facility set to rise on a 6,000-square-meter lot inside the iconic Camp John Hay.
PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio and BCDA Chairman Hilario Paredes signed the memorandum of agreement together with BCDA President Joshua Bingcang and other officials. Gregorio called the project a 'responsibility built on trust and hope,' while Paredes stressed the facility will give Cordillera athletes a proper training ground closer to home.
Unlike traditional single-sport venues, the John Hay Sports Center is designed as a multi-disciplinary training hub. It will accommodate basketball, volleyball, futsal, netball, handball, and floorball, among others — taking advantage of Baguio's high-altitude environment, which is known to build endurance and competitive edge.
'Many of our athletes from the Cordillera region have to travel far and train without stability. A regional training ground here in John Hay changes that,' Paredes said. 'Let me state this clearly — this milestone was made possible because we chose to work together. No politics, no personal agenda, just one goal to support Filipino athletes.'
The facility is expected to draw schools, professional teams, and national sports associations looking for centralized high-altitude training. It's a big step toward positioning Baguio as a premier sports tourism destination in the Philippines.
Source: Manila Bulletin / Tempo
