BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The provincial government of Negros Occidental and the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) committed to open a weightlifting gym in the province to further promote the sport.
The gym will be named in honor of Hidilyn Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist.
During Friday’s press conference, SWP president Monico Puentevella said he and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson decided that the new gym will be constructed at a provincial government-owned property beside a boxing gym named in honor of 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver- medalist Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco.
Puentevella also revealed that Diaz donated P1 million worth of weightlifting equipment directly to the Philippine Sports Commission and SWP which will then be given to various local government units in the country.
On Friday, Diaz was declared an “adopted daughter” of Negros Occidental in a formal ceremony at the Social Hall of the Provincial Capitol Building./PN
