THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM), through its Local Government Support Fund, has set aside P35 million for the Cagayan de Oro City Government's project to convert the old dumpsite in Upper Dagong, Barangay Carmen into an Eco-Park.
According to engineer Armen Cuenca, officer-in-charge of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro), it was upon the City Government's recommendation that the P35 million from the DBM be allotted to the Eco-Park project.
He added that there are still certain requirements to be complied before the P35 million will be transferred to the City Government, such as the project proposal and details on how the P35 million will be used in the said project.
Cuenca said the project is an idea of City Mayor Oscar Moreno to turn the old dumpsite into an environment and recreational park.
"Yan ang concept ni mayor na from being a place na walang gustong makapunta, walang gustong makakita, kasi mabaho dyan, but gusto ni mayor na i-transform sya into a place na pwedeng recreation ng mga tao, yung doon na pwede syang gawing open space na parang park (That is the concept of the mayor, that from being a place where no one wanted to visit or to see because of the stench, he wanted to transform it into a place for people's recreation, an open space like a park)," Cuenca said.
The Clenro officer-in-charge said the eco-park will include a botanical garden, butterfly garden, children's playground, senior citizen's lane, nursery, bike lane, tennis court and basketball court, among others.
At present, Cuenca said the project has already completed the rehabilitation stage and is now in its development stage.
"Actually, ang ating old dumpsite sinara yan (the old dumpsite was closed) last year. So part of the rehabilitation, may mga infrastructure dyan ngayon na yung mga methane gas na-eliminate na. Tapos, yung mga tinanim na mga kahoy dyan na pwedeng maka tulong sa mga toxic materials na nandyan. Tapos ang ginawa natin ngayon is yung City Engineer, sila ang gumawa ng development plan (there are some infrastructures used to eliminate the methane gas in the area. There are also trees planted to help eradicate toxic materials. At present, the City Engineer has created the development plan for the eco-park)," Cuenca said.
The Eco-park project, according to Cueca, will take 5 to 10 years to be completed.