The façade of the Grandstar Hotel. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE, AGUSAN DEL SUR
PROSPERIDAD, AGUSAN DEL SUR — The Governor DO Plaza Memorial Sports Complex in this town will open its Grandstand Hotel to guests, who will be coming for the Caraga Regional Athletic Games (Crag) on May 5-11.
The hotel sits behind the 3,000-seat grandstand and promises comfort and convenience for athletes, officials, and spectators with its fully air-conditioned rooms equipped with wi-fi connection, according to Angie Lee Patac Calimbo, information officer of the Provincial Economic Enterprise Development Office (Peedo).
Calimbo said the hotel has 24 rooms, but only 18 are fully furnished for the week-long sporting event that starts on Sunday.
After the Crag event, the hotel will also open itself to those who will hold training and seminars at the Provincial Learning Center, only about 200 meters from its structure.
READ: World-class sports complex rises in Agusan del Sur
Agusan del Sur Gov. Santiago Cane Jr. said that aside from the Grandstand Hotel, the province, which would host the event, would also tap other hotels and accommodation facilities here and in nearby towns. It will also tap public schools to billet the 10,066 athletes, coaches, tournament officials, and guests from around the region.
Cane said the rehabilitated sports complex, which features state-of-the-art facilities, has an Olympic-size swimming pool, a fully air-conditioned covered court for basketball and volleyball, a tennis court, a rubberized track and field oval, and a football field on artificial grass.
Linda Buquir, the provincial engineer, said the rehabilitation project, which cost the province some P713 million, was done by three private contractors who started the project in June 2018.
After the facility was completed in 1994, the provincial government shelved other development works within the facility as the provincial government failed to get the approval to host the Palarong Pambansa during those times.
READ: Agusan del Sur bids to host Palarong Pambansa in 2026
The provincial government revived its bid to host the Palarong Pambansa in 2026, competing alongside Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga City.
The governor, along with Agusan del Sur 1st District Rep. Alfelito Bascug, had accompanied Maria Ines Asuncion, regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) in presenting the provincial government’s bid at the DepEd central office on March 8.