Catanduanes State University (CatSU) President Patrick Azanza has confirmed that the construction of a 6,000-capacity coliseum within the university campus is officially set to proceed. According to reports, the project will take three years to complete, with funding provided by the Ako Bicol Partylist at P100 million per year.
The coliseum project is part of the Multi-Purpose Building and Institutional Facilities for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Education, Sports (MICES) program, which also includes the construction of similar coliseums in other provinces across the Bicol Region.
President Azanza expressed his excitement, noting that the coliseum will be a significant boost to Catanduanes’ tourism industry, as it will enable the province to host large conventions and national conferences.
In a Facebook post on July 26, President Azanza confirmed that he had officially signed the “Permit to Enter” for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region V, allowing the winning contractor to begin construction.
“I signed today the ‘Permit to Enter’ for DPWH Region V, enabling the contractor to start building the Coliseum or MICES Building with a 6,000 seating capacity and a total budget of P300 million (P100 million per year for three years), funded by the government with the help of the Ako Bicol Partylist,” the president shared.
President Azanza also addressed concerns raised by some politicians who allegedly wanted the construction site moved due to land title issues. He clarified that the university has already submitted the necessary land titles, tax declarations, and deeds of sale to DPWH Region V, proving that the property is legally owned by CatSU.
“In response to claims by traditional politicians, I personally visited DPWH Region V and submitted documents showing that the land is titled under the name of the school, as per VNATS and CSC, which was converted into Catanduanes State University (CatSU) under Republic Act 10299,” he added.
Key figures involved in the project include Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Elizaldy Co, TGP Partylist Representative Jose “Bong” Teves, Jr., and Catanduanes Lone District Congressman Leo Rodriguez. (FB/BP Newsteam)
