A total of 4,400 students will be affected by the temporary closure of Makati Aqua Sports Arena (MASA) which is maintained by the Makati local government, according to Makati Mayor Abigail 'Abby' Binay.
In her column on PhilStar Ngayon published March 11, Binay said the Taguig local government unit ordered the shutdown of MASA which has an Olympic-size swimming pool for the swimming lessons and training of students.
"Wala na yatang sasakit pa sa loob ko bilang ina ng lungsod na makita silang nalulungkot dahil hindi tuloy ang mga naka-schedule na swimming lessons nila. Sayang naman ang bagung-bago at complete swim gear ng mga bata na meron pang goggles at swim caps kung sarado naman ang lugar kung saan sila magsu-swimming," she said.
Of the 4,400 affected, Binay said 2,195 are participants of the I Can Swim Program, 1,486 are Grade 12 students of the Higher School of University of Makati (UMak), and 719 are students of UMak's College of Human Kinetics.
The closure, the Makati mayor said, will cause problems for students who are required to finish a swimming course as part of the school curriculum.
"Para natin silang inexcite at tinakam pagkatapos ay binawi rin sa bandang huli. Napakalupit po ninyo para ipagkait ang maliit na kaligayahan ng mga batang ito—ang makapag swimming at matutong lumangoy nang libre. At kalulad nga ng nasambit ko, bakit andamut-damot n’yo?" the mayor stressed.
MASA is only beside the Makati Park and Garden which the Taguig government first closed last March 3.
Binay claimed that MASA is not part of the closure order issued by the Taguig government.
"Halatang hindi pinag-isipang mabuti ng mga opisyal ng Taguig ang magiging epekto ng kanilang hindi makatwiran at padalus-dalos na aksyon, at ngayon ay nakaaapekto sa buhay ng mga mag-aaral sa Makati na kinabibilangan ng kanilang sariling constituents," she ended.
In a report by RH Edniel Parrosa on Tuesday, March 12, the MASA has been padlocked, but Makati security personnel and construction workers are still guarding the facility.
The Taguig government reportedly closed MASA due to lack of authorized permit to operate.
Makati Aqua Sports Arena nakakando; ilang tauhan, nananatili sa loob ng pasilidad @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/Mn2WkAECGY
— Edniel Parrosa (@ednielparrosa) March 11, 2024
Ayon sa tauhan ng Taguig PIO, ilang construction workers na naipit sa agawan ng Makati Park and Garden ang iniwan na ang kanilang barracks dahil wala na silang kinikita. @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/FVyj9wXCtC
— Edniel Parrosa (@ednielparrosa) March 11, 2024
