IN LINE with the vision to make Masantol town a water-driven aquapolis, the local government is eyeing the construction of new and modernized P55-million agri-tourism facilities along the Pampanga River.
Mayor Danilo Guintu presented the proposal to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Corporation which are implementing the Korean-funded Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation project in Pampanga.
Guintu said the proposal is to integrate the agri-tourism infrastructure project to the said multi-billion-peso flood-mitigating project funded by the Korea Economic Development Cooperation Fund.
The proposed project includes the renovation and modernization of the Municipal Fishport located in Barangay Sto. Niño to improve the livelihood of local fishermen, as well as provide a better facility for tourists visiting the developed coastal areas in town.
An open-space esplanade-cum-public park where locals, especially senior citizens, and tourists can walk and jog and do other leisure activities, is also included in the proposal.
“Our proposal is to include the funding to the flood-control project facilitated by Hanjin. The renovation of the fishport has an estimated cost of P25 million, while the baywalk is seen to cost around P30 million,” Guintu said.
Meanwhile, Robust Structural Engineer Khan Sung Wan, who was commissioned by the local government of Masantol, is in the process of identifying projects that are suitable for low-lying areas like this town, as well as its proper implementation.
“I am conducting site inspection to see the projects that are appropriate for this and once identified, we will be discussing it to the DPWH so they can integrate it hopefully to the Hanjin project,” he said.