• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer announced yesterday that a P50 million budget has been allocated by Senator Francis Tolentino, for the flood control of Bantayan Park, which he said is the center of commerce and an economic zone of Bago City, in Negros Occidental.
Ferrer, who attended the 57th Charter anniversary and opening ceremony of the Agro-Industrial Educational Cultural Trade Fair at the Bantayan Park in Bago City, said he is hopeful that the funds will be released within the year.
At the same time, he congratulated Mayor Nicholas Torres and members of the City Council, led by Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, for the marked improvement of the Bantayan Park, which has become a tourist destination in Bago City.
Yulo said that 15 hectares of the Bantayan Park is now owned by the city, and they are also working for the land titles of seven more hectares, in favor of the city government.
He stressed the need for protection of the river wall from siltation.
Bago City is now on its third phase implementation of the Green, Green, Green Program of the Department of Budget and Management, started by then Secretary Benjamin Diokno during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, that aims to make the country’s 145 cities more livable and sustainable through the development of public open spaces.
It helps city governments to create forest parks, botanical gardens, and arboretum, to improve livability of urban areas.
Yulo said Bago City received a total of P46 million from DBM, which is being used in the improvement of the Bantayan Park.
The mayor also reported that Bago City, including its Bantayan Park, was among the Top 6 winners in the search for Green Destination Top 100 stories, an annual competition by Green Destinations, a global non-profit organization created in Netherlands, to support sustainable destinations.
The title of its entry is “Reviving the Majesty of Diversity of Bago River Watershed,” and the awarding is slated on March 7 and 8 in Berlin, Germany.
It has a big significance to Bantayan Park, which is part of the Bago River, and now also a landmark and destination of the people and tourists, as well, the mayor further said.
Ferrer said he is also hoping that the P50 million funds he requested for the repair and construction of a bridge that collapsed two years ago in Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, that connects the Buenos Aires mountain resort to the Twin Falls, may soon be released.*
