Businessman Enrique Razon Jr. has revived his offer to redevelop and revitalize the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) through a preservation and urban renewal project.

“Fully cognizant that RMSC is a sports landmark and of the close association that Filipinos have for sports, the Razon Group, in its preservation plan, will maintain as well as fortify the RMSC façade,” Razon, owner of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and Bloomberry Resorts Corp, said yesterday.

Under the group’s redevelopment plan, there would be contemporary buildings within the facade and walls that would house modern offices and commercial areas.

The new development would be run by smart technologies, with modern amenities and green open spaces, he added.

These business areas would compensate for the expensive and meticulous process of restoring and preserving the facade of the iconic sports complex, Razon said.

The RMSC was built 82 years ago in 1934. The complex was destroyed during World War II but was reconstructed in 1953 and renovated in 2011.

Since then, the complex has not had any upgrades, rendering it unsuitable and unsafe for training athletes, let alone holding local and international games, Razon said.

Managed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the property itself is owned by the city of Manila but the city government has had no income from the complex for years now.

The PSC has reportedly been considering transferring the complex to a different location, possibly in Clark, in order to build the Philippine Olympic Village. – Iris Gonzales, Evelyn Macairan