BAGUIO City Councilor Mylen Yaranon is heading the rehabilitation of Burnham Park as well as its master development plan.
The park rehab will start with a P20-million fund from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza).
Yaranon said she is excited that there will finally be a direction for the city's most popular park.
“We will re-green and rebloom the area of the lake,” Yaranon said.
Yaranon added the sprucing up of the lake will include brick paving, installation of planters and landscaping of the surroundings with the rehabilitation of four corners of the boating area and the view deck.
The city lawmaker added Mayor Benjie Magalong has also approved the formation of a technical working group (TWG) to oversee developments of the park as well as the creation of the Burnham Master Development Plan.
Magalong will stand as chairman of the TWG and oversee the rehab of the park.
The TWG will include stakeholders and take into consideration previous plans submitted for the park which will jump off from the University of Cordilleras master plan donated to the city.
Last week, Tieza's chief executive officer Pocholo Paragas informed Magalong, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and urban planner Arch. Joseph Alabanza the fund was previously approved by the board in 2015 but it is only set for release now.
Paragas said the allocation of the funds for the regreening and reblooming project is just an initial wave of support from the tourism body to the city government as there is the upcoming funding support for projects in the comprehensive development plan for the 34-hectare Burnham Park.
Tieza also supports the pending proposal in Congress for the declaration of Burnham Park as a national heritage to give the agency more reason to infuse funds to sustain the efforts to preserve and protect the park and to regulate the put up of infrastructure in one of the country’s icon landmarks. (With a report from the Baguio City PIO)