CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — Cebu Province is being positioned as the potential site of a world-class international sports complex, with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) expressing readiness to finance the project in partnership with the provincial government.
The proposed development, which may rise on a 20-hectare property, gained momentum after Governor Pamela Baricuatro met with PSC officials and representatives from MTD Philippines on Wednesday, March 18.
MTD Philippines, the developer behind the New Clark City project in Tarlac, presented the concept of an International Sports Complex designed to serve as a permanent training and competition venue for athletes.
The facility is envisioned to cater to both regional and national athletes, with programs to be supervised by the Visayas Sports Academy.
Aside from sports development, the proposed complex is also being eyed as a dual-purpose project that will integrate a Provincial Government Center, which could function as a satellite office of the Capitol.
Plans indicate that the complex will meet international standards and accommodate various sporting events, including athletics, football, aquatics, beach volleyball, and other multi-sport competitions.
It is also being considered as a key venue should the Philippines host the 2028 Asian Beach Games.
PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, who attended the meeting along with Commissioner Edward Hayco, expressed the agency s willingness to bankroll the project, subject to a partnership agreement with Cebu Province.
Baricuatro, for her part, emphasized her administration s commitment to strengthening sports development and further positioning Cebu as a premier destination for sports, particularly as the country s dancesport capital.
While the final site has yet to be determined, local government units have already begun expressing interest in hosting the project.
Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica has offered to donate 30 hectares of land to the province should the complex be located in his municipality.
Meanwhile, another potential site is being considered in Barangay Balili, City of Naga, where the provincial government owns a property.
Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said discussions are ongoing to develop the Balili property, especially with Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong expressing interest in transforming the area into an economic zone.
Empaces noted that the Naga site offers strategic advantages, including accessibility to airport and seaport facilities, making it a viable location for a large-scale sports complex.
He added that the project is being eyed under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme involving the PSC and the Cebu Provincial Government.
According to Empaces, the broader vision goes beyond a single facility, with plans to establish a network of sports hubs across Cebu.
Maghimo og regional sports hub in Cebu, specific in particular sports, Empaces said, explaining that different towns may specialize in different sporting disciplines.
He cited initial plans to upgrade the Sudlon property in Lahug into a dedicated gymnastics facility.
Other cities and municipalities in the province are also being considered for specialized developments, including a site in Balamban that may host a track-and-field complex and a swimming facility, potentially with indoor or air-conditioned features.
Empaces said the strategy is to distribute sports facilities across the province, with some towns focusing on track and field, while others develop sports adventure tourism offerings.
“Ang plano man gud sa PSC nga na y specific towns in Cebu nga i-spread out ba. Naa y towns nga focus on track and field, na y town nga focus on sports adventure tourism,” he noted.
The initiative, he added, aims to transform Cebu into a sports tourism hub, diversifying its existing tourism portfolio.
Add sports to Philippines tourism
Due to the decline in arrivals in Philippine tourism, sports present a significant opportunity to bridge this gap.
Patrick Gregorio, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, has proposed adding an “S” for sports to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions).
Gregorio s call to add S to MICE, transforming it into SMICE, was a rallying cry for the industry to seize the moment.
This addition aims to transform the country’s tourism industry by inviting people from around the world not only to visit but also to compete, celebrate, and experience the Philippines through sports.
Despite being recognized by the World Travel and Tourism Council as the largest tourism economy in ASEAN in terms of GDP contribution, the country continues to trail its neighbors in foreign arrivals.
Last year, the Philippines welcomed 6.48 million international visitors according to figures from the Bureau of Immigration, a bit better than around 5.9 million the previous year, but still far behind Thailand s 28 million and Vietnam s 12 million, reports say.
This year, its recovery is getting complicated because of the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has disrupted global travel flows and raised oil prices.
Yet amid these challenges, sporting events continue to thrive proving themselves a resilient and unifying force that transcends geopolitical tensions.
As PSC chairman Gregorio puts in, sports have a world of their own.
Sports tourism forum at Nustar
At the Sports Tourism Forum held at Nustar Resort in the South Road Properties, leaders from the government, private sector, and sports organizations united in the belief that sports could be the Philippines’ game-changing advantage.
Gregorio, who also chairs the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC), underscored that athletes and their supporters generate significant spending during competitions, creating a ripple effect across local economies.
Athletes don t negotiate hotel rates or meals. They come to win and they bring families, friends, and supporters who stay, spend, and promote the destination, he said.
Charles Lim, president of Sports Turismo Alliance Incorporated, who led the organization of the event, reminded participants that Cebu s sports tourism journey began with the 2004 Southeast Asian Games.
Hosting sporting events is not just about the event itself, but about the long-term benefits it brings, Lim said, citing Ironman races and the FIBA Basketball World Cup, among others, as examples of events that leave lasting legacies.
Doctor Gelena Asis Dimpas of the Department of Tourism Central Visayas highlighted Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu as prime venues for marathons, triathlons, and water sports.
Sports become sports tourism when competition begins to attract visitors, she explained, pointing to dragon boat races, Filipino martial arts tournaments, and Ironman events that have drawn thousands of athletes and spectators from various places.
Princess Galura of Sunrise Events Inc. showcased Ironman 70.3 and 5150 triathlons as proof of sports tourism s economic power. Sports tourism means one thing bringing in new money, she said. Every Ironman finisher brings home merchandise with Cebu s name. That s global promotion at no cost.
She described the Philippines as entering a sports tourism renaissance, driven by health-conscious travelers and amplified by social media, where every athlete becomes a promoter of the destination.
Cleofe Albiso, president of the Cebu MICE Alliance, outlined Cebu s strengths: over 2,700 DOT-accredited establishments, strong culinary identity, healthcare capacity with 4,000 hospital beds, and proven hosting of ASEAN-level events.
But she cautioned that connectivity remains a challenge. Events should come first before the destination. When we create strong events, the destination naturally gains recognition, Albiso said.
The forum stressed that sports tourism is more than competition it is community pride, infrastructure development, and global exposure.
With Cebu already hosting international triathlons and martial arts tournaments, and with bids underway for global events in 2027 and 2028, the province is positioning itself as a sports tourism powerhouse.
As Lim reminded the audience with Nelson Mandela s words: Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.
In a time when global crises threaten traditional tourism flows, sports remain a resilient and unifying force.
For the Philippines, this is the moment to pounce starting with its Asian neighbors by embracing sports tourism not as an afterthought, but as a central strategy to attract visitors, strengthen communities, and showcase the nation on the world stage.
| Written by Jonnavie Villa, Caecent No-ot Magsumbol/RAE
