The Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex (JEMSC) in Baliwasan known as the grandstand, is ready to serve the public anew, as repair works that started February 2022 are complete.
Mayor John Dalipe will lead the program that will formally reopen the facility this morning, Wednesday, February 22.
As it reopens, the JEMSC will be the venue for various 86th Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga activities to include the Paralympic Games Feb. 23-25, the grand civic military parade and seal competition and the main Dia program on Sunday, Feb. 26.
The grandstand underwent construction, rehabilitation and improvement from March 21, 2016 to January 1, 2019, after it served as the biggest evacuation center in the aftermath of the 2013 Zamboanga siege. It was inaugurated in February 2019 but was closed to the public due to the lockdown caused by the COVID pandemic in March 2020.
It was briefly re-opened in the latter part of 2021 but had to close anew as it was used as isolation facility and later underwent repair due to deteriorating oval tracks in Feb. 2022.
The 5.7-hectare sports complex was constructed in November 1991 at a cost of P64 million and was completed in time for the 1992 Palarong Pambansa. It has a capacity of 10.000 people.
(Source: City Government of Zamboanga Facebook Page, photo courtesy of Yoshi Rodriguez)