New Clark City Sports Complex benefits athletes but was flagged by COA for losses

As controversy surrounding the New Clark City Sports Complex is reignited, student athletes are taking advantage of the world-class facility, but the Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged its operations years back for financial losses.

The sports complex cost a hefty P10 billion to make, with construction lasting a mere 18 months. It was built for the Philippines’ hosting stint of the 38th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2019, but several controversies hounded the events.

A report from 24 Oras on Friday showed that the facilities are currently being used by the student athletes of the National Academy for Sports, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself visiting the sports complex earlier on July 14.

Several student athletes told GMA that the facilities enabled them to train and qualify for several competitions, including the Palarong Pambansa.

However, in their 2022 to 2023 report, the COA flagged the sports complex for financial losses.

State auditors told the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) that the annual maintenance of the facilities was greater than what it was profiting.

In 2022, the BCDA spent more than P51 million on the operations and maintenance of the complex. The venue only made P39.8 million in adjusted rent income, resulting in a P11.39 million loss.

The following year, the BCDA lost P5.77 million on the sports complex.

GMA News has asked for the BCDA’s comment on the matter and will update the story once they respond.

The National Bureau of Investigation recently announced that they were reopening the probe into the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said that the agency will subpoena members of the Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee on Monday as part of their investigation.

Former Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Richard Gordon said that they were about to investigate the sports complex, but they were not able to due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The former senator said that the investigation into the sports complex should continue, as there are billions of pesos involved.

“We found that there seemed to be a lot of anomalies,” Gordon said. –Jean Mangalum/NB, GMA News