No work stoppage at Panaad during festival

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson on Thursday said there is no need to stop the repair and renovation of the Panaad Stadium during the Panaad festival in April 2020.

The repair and renovation of the sports facility, particularly the grandstand and the oval track, undertaken by a Manila-based construction firm started this week.

“We will not be using that portion of the Panaad, but if there is a need for work stoppage we will take about it,” Lacson said.

The provincial government allotted P150 million for the repair and renovation of the Panaad Park and Stadium that is estimated to take a year in preparation for the 2021 Palarong Pambansa here.

Lacson said the repair and renovation will not affect the grandeur of the Panaad Festival this year.

Earlier, he said that the grandstand will be closed as it is the first area that will be repaired, although other areas will be utilized fully for the festival.

While it would mean a smaller venue for this year’s Panaad festival “it does not mean a smaller celebration,” Lacson said.

“We will not anymore use the grandstand because that is where the major renovation will start,” Lacson said.