New sports arena seen to produce Olympic medalists
DEPUTY Speaker and Valenzuela City Rep. Wes Gatchalian on Tuesday expressed optimism that the newly inaugurated Wellness Entertainment and Sports Arena will produce top caliber players who will bring home Olympic medals.
“Naniniwala ako na isang araw, mula sa arena na ito ay may susunod pa sa yapak at maabot ang kaparehong tagumpay na natamo ng medalists ng ating bansa sa nakaraang Tokyo Olympics,” said Gatchalian during the inauguration of the arena recently.
The world-class WES Arena, located in a 1.2 hectare lot in Barangay Punturin was constructed through the initiative of Rep. Gatchalian. The arena has state-of the art facilities for basketball, badminton, volleyball, boxing, and martial arts. It also has a dance studio, darts area, chess tables, billiards tables, food kiosks, medical clinic, VIP holding room, referee room, dugout, and locker rooms.
“Ito ang tamang panahon para bigyang pansin at magpatupad ng iba’t-ibang programa na may kinalaman sa kalusugan Ang pandemyang ating nararanasan ay paalala na dapat pahalagahan natin ang ating kalusugan. Kaya naman dito sa ating Wellness and Sports Arena, sama-sama tayo sa pagkamit ng kasiglahan ng ating mga katawan,” Gatchalian added.
While the government is currently imposing limitations on indoor sports activities, Gatchalian said the Arena will be temporarily used as a Mega Vaccination Center.
“Habang limitado pa na magkaroon ng indoor sports activities, at bilang pagtugon sa pangangailangan na sugpuin ang pagkalat ng COVID-19, itong pasilidad ay pansamantala po nating gagamitin bilang Mega Vaccination Center ng Valenzuela City,” the solon said.
Based on initial projection, Gatchalian said around 2,000 individuals can be vaccinated in the Arena daily.
The Valenzuela City government targets to vaccinate 476,000 Valenzuelanos, of which 280,308 or 59 percent are already fully vaccinated as of Thursday.
“Kaya naman ang pansamantalang pag-convert ng pasilidad na ito ay maituturing na kontribusyon natin sa layuning mapabilis ang pagbabakuna kontra COVID-19 sa ating mga mamamayan para maabot ang herd immunity,” he added.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Secretary Mark Villar, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Health Sec. Francisco Duque, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, Vaccination Czar Sec. Carlito Galvez, Secretary Vince Dizon, City Mayor Rex Gatchalian and other local officials graced the event.
