Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez said yesterday the agency is ready to refurbish the Rizal Memorial Sports Center if and when negotiations with the City of Manila bogs down.
“We can improve this place,” said Ramirez in a press briefing at the PSC office.
PSC executives and Manila officials are set to meet today until Friday.
Ramirez confirmed that there have been talks in the past, with the last was about two weeks ago when officials of Manila – led by Mayor Joseph Estrada – made an offer for the PSC to “relinquish” its rights on the RMSC.
The chief of the government sports agency said that the offer was not what they were expecting and that they are hoping to get a higher bid.
Manila reportedly offered P5 billion.
Business tycoon Enrique Razon is said to be interested in buying the sports facility, built in 1936, to transform it into one of the biggest shopping and entertainment centers in the country.
“Their offer was not the price we were asking,” said Ramirez of the Manila offer.
“We want a higher prize to leave the place since the PSC is hoping to get something in return if we relinquish it to Manila,” added Ramirez, who got his instructions to talk to Manila from the President through Executive Secretary Salvador Melledivia.
“We can’t sell this land, we can only relinquish the rights since the DoJ already decided that the title is owned by Manila.”
“It was the setup we assumed from the previous administration (under former PSC chairman Richie Garcia), and because of that we only continue the discussion,” said Ramirez.
If talks fall through, Ramirez said the PSC and athletes “are not bound to leave the place.” Instead, renovations will begin.
Should the deal take place, however, nationals athletes would be asked to vacate the premises only after the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this August.
“We’ll also request Manila to preserve some historical structures,” said Ramirez.