Thursday, June 28, 2007 Councilor rues lack of priority in development of city parks
RE-ELECTED Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez lamented the lack of priority in the development of parks in Baguio.
This developed, after the P10-million additional funding for the satellite market building at Mines View Park was distributed to other projects in the city.
"For as long as parks are the least priority (here), we could never redeem our lost glory," Rondez said as she lamented the current state of our parks where some are already in a state of dilapidation, while others have been removed from the list of parks.
Mines View Park has recently been reclassified by the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office as a shopping destination, and not as a park, because of the presence of too many souvenir stalls in the area.
Additional funding was requested for the Mines View building, following the escalation of prices of construction materials but Councilors Jose Molintas and Erdolfo Balajadia said there are equally important projects that need funding like sports and peace and order.
Rondez said if the building's construction pushed through, the space that used to be occupied by stalls can be reclaimed as part of the park.
Councilor Elmer Datuin, chairman of the City Council Committee on Laws, supported Rondez' view adding that if the structure was built, the area would be decongested and the area might even be classified back as a park again. (RO)
