President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the Sorsogon Sports Arena (SSA) on Thursday, coinciding with the celebration of the province's 130th anniversary and the 50th Kasanggayahan Festival.
Marcos praised the newly inaugurated SSA, stating that it is now a source of pride for the entire Bicol region. He stated that it is undeniably a symbol of progress for Sorsogon and the entire Bicol region.
In his speech, the President mentioned that this is a significant step towards supporting young people with exceptional talent in sports. He stated that such facilities will provide them with opportunities to further hone their skills.
"Sa pagtataya, kaya ng arena na ito na maiupo ang aabot sa 12,000 katao. [Maaari] rin itong gamitin bilang National Training Camp ng mga atletang Pilipino," Marcos said in his speech.
Furthermore, Marcos expressed his hope to increase the number of Filipino Olympians and athletes.
“Hangarin natin na sa pamamagitan ng Arena na ito [ay] lalo pang dumami ang mga kababayan natin na magbibigay ng dangal sa ating bansa,” Marcos said.
He further stated that the Arena can be utilized for various events, such as meetings, summits, concerts, and competitions, alongside sporting activities.
The SSA is a four-story sports facility covering 37,794.01 square meters, designed in the style of the Colosseum in Rome. Located in Barangay Balogo, Sorsogon City, it is part of the Sorsogon Sports Complex 4.
With an estimated seating capacity of 12,000, the SSA includes 139 rooms, among which are 39 dormitory-style rooms capable of housing up to 560 beds for athletes and guests.
In the same event, Marcos interacted with former Vice President Leni Robredo and Senatorial candidate Bam Aquino at the inauguration of the Arena.
According to Senate President Chiz Escudero, he invited Robredo to Sorsogon to welcome the President during his visit to the city.
