INC building arena tagged PH’s biggest

CITY OF MALOLOS—The Bulacan government has reclassified for commercial use farms belonging to the Iglesia ni Cristo straddling Bocaue and Sta. Maria towns that would be used as site for the 50,000-seat Philippine Arena, touted to be the country’s biggest coliseum.

The reclassification of more than 35,000 hectares of church land in Ciudad de Victoria took place on Tuesday, said Board Member Michael Fermin, who chairs the committees on tourism and education.

Fermin said the church project will afford Bulacan the chance to host international and national events like the annual Palarong Pambansa.

The Arena is halfway through and is expected to be unveiled on INC’s centennial celebrations in July 2014.

The project is estimated to cost the church P9.4 billion. Carmela Reyes-Estrope, Inquirer Central Luzon