Wednesday, January 30, 2008 Ledesma: The People's Park By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
IF THERE is an achievement that the city government has and we, Dabawenyos, can truly be proud of, this is the People's Park. This project is a legacy that the Duterte administration can leave not only for his political constituents, but also to all Mindanaowons. It's a landmark, it is a heritage park, and it is a gift of love. Nothing compares for this one is unique.
The money spent on the People's Park is money well spent. The vicious critics severely lacked the sense of value and standard of what a park ought to be that's why they rile and vilify. We have been used to mediocrity and ordinariness we lost our capacity to think beyond hollow blocks, potted bougainvillea, river rocks and florescent tubes that are a commonplace in many so-called parks. Of course the political adversaries of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte see the achievement differently. Nothing will stop them from stoking criticism especially when there's no way they can install their "initiative billboard" on this project.
What I am personally worried of is the sustained maintenance of the park. Some quarters will subject me to flagellation but I do not agree with the idea of Mayor Duterte to forever open this park Free to the public. Money was spent to realize this dream. True, some good-hearted individuals, among them former RDC Chairman Chito V. Ayala and his wife Fe, have donated priceless tree varieties from their own backyard and vacation house, but even those precious trees need to be cared for. You need money to maintain this park. If we value this one nothing is too big or too small to keep the park in excellent condition.
I have been lucky to travel to a few countries and since I always have the kids in tow and my wife (who holds the purse) of course, part of the itineraries, are parks. You always pay as you enter. And the gate price is not that small. There is absolutely no exception. Our People's Park is at par with most, if not better than some.
I would suggest an entrance fee of P20 for adults and P10 for children and senior citizens. These sums are practically a token. It's just like missing a stick of cigarette for adults (and you come out healthy) or less than two-minute cell phone call or 10 hi! Or hello! Text messages. For kids hooked to Internet games, going to the park instead might be a good therapy.
My estimate is that since it's opening last December, no less than one million people from all over Mindanao have visited the park. In not a few occasions I saw columns of buses lining along Camus and Palma Gil streets. They have not stopped as each time I pass that way there are throngs of people queuing at the entrance. Had we charged entrance fee from the beginning, we could have collected more than half of what we have spent on the park. By the end of the year, we should have recovered our investment. Then we could move on and develop our Rizal and Osmeña parks into something more pleasant to the eye. These two parks can be free to the public but should not be made into sleeping quarters for bums and vagrants.
BTW, got this e-mail from a fellow Rotarian, Jon Belisario who has settled in the US:
"Hello Jun,
Hopefully you'll remember me.
I just wanted to know that I read your column almost everytime it becomes available online. Your insights into Davao politics and other social issues bring me uptodate and give me an idea of how citizens in our beloved Davao think about what's important to them. Obviously, I don't always agree with your assessment but that's healthy. Wouldn't you agree?
I read in your last column that although your wife had lots of family and friends in the US and you only had ex-councilor Joe Jison as yours, please consider me as another friend you can visit anytime you are in the States. I live in New Fairfield, Connecticut which sounds far but is only actually a pleasant commuter train ride away from the Big Apple, New York City .
I've been reading about Ferdie Maranon's growing enterprise. Good for him and the people who work with and for him.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Jon Belisario"
Jon is connected with TnT Expense Management, LLC at 13 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook, CT 06482. For long lost friend Jon, I wish to inform you that past president Ferdie Maranon might be hitting your shores to look for markets of his products. The products will really be a big treat to Filipinos. I swear to this for I tasted the variety of products that his firm processes.
(For feedback e-mail me at: scledesmajr@yahoo.com.)
