THE design of a group of students from Liceo de Cagayan University was chosen as the concept design for the rehabilitation of the old dumpsite in Zayas, barangay Carmen.
One of the designers, Liceo civil engineering student Larry Jade Bacalares, said the ecopark they envision represents the history of Cagayan de Oro. He said it will also feature and honor the tribes in the city.
Bacalares said the park would showcase a cultural village in a botanical garden setting.
It will serve as a learning center for ecotourism, ethnic arts, and flora and fauna that are endemic to Northern Mindanao.
It will have cozy guest cottages, a camp ground, recreational area, picnic shed, orchidarium, tropical zoo garden, restaurants, amphitheater, and a hall.
It will also have a bike trail and several fun rides such an extreme coaster ride.
It will also have a store where former scavengers can sell their products as their new means of livelihood.
The ecopark challenge was participated in by four universities, namely Liceo, Xavier University, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, and Cagayan de Oro College.
As the winner, Liceo will receive P60,000 cash, while the rest of the participating schools will get P10,000 each.
City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) head Armen Cuenca said all of the designs will be made as reference to the final design of the old landfill.
The final design will be drawn up by the City Engineering Office.
This initiative is part of the city government's efforts to transform the 17-hectare old dumpsite into an eco-park.
Cuenca said the old dumpsite will have a botanical and butterfly gardens, lagoon, basketball court, bike lane, jogging area, and an amphitheater.
The city government recently received a grant of P35 million from the Department of Budget Management (DBM) for the old dumpsite's initial phase of its rehabilitation. It will be used for land development.
The Zayas dumpsite was closed last year for various violations. The city opened an engineered landfill in Barangay Pagalungan, 16 kilometers away from the city proper.