SENATOR Francis Tolentino has assured the City Government of Bago that he will provide P50 million for the flood control project at Bantayan Park in the city.
Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who attended the opening of the 57th Charter Anniversary of Bago City on Tuesday, February 14, said he talked with Senator Tolentino last week and he promised to allocate the budget for Bago City.
"We are hopeful to materialize this project this year because Bantayan Park is an ecozone in Bago City," he said.
For his part, Mayor Nicholas Yulo said they need the seawall project at Bantayan Park to protect the slopes from the river.
"This project will protect the riverbanks from further erosion and prevent water overflow," he said.
He added that the City Government has an on-going project at Bantayan Park, and it’s already in the third tranche of the budget from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The mayor said that in 2022, the cities of Bago and Sagay will make it to the world’s Top 100 "Green Destinations" list, a recognition given by the Green Destinations Foundation based in The Netherlands.
Yulo said the Bago Watershed plays a vital role in steering the economy of the city in particular and the entire province of Negros Occidental.
It provides water for about 19,000 hectares of agricultural areas, including irrigated rice lands, sugarcane plantations, and other agricultural farms in the city, and serves as the recharge area of underground aquifers, which are also tapped to support more than 10,000 households for domestic and industrial water usage.
The 2022 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories List recognition for Bago City was given during the Green Destinations and Future of Tourism Summit held in Athens, Greece, on September 27, 2022.
Yulo said the city was able to continue reaping success and dreaming even bigger for its people by upholding an excellent brand of leadership and sustaining a strong cooperation with the residents.
"The charter anniversary reminds us of our strength as a city—something worth celebrating," he said.
He added that this is the first time in two years that the city will be holding a physical charter anniversary celebration due to the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Yulo also expressed his gratitude to Tolentino and Ferrer for bringing more projects to Bago City.
Meanwhile, as part of the 57th Charter Anniversary celebration, on Thursday, February 16, Bago City will hold its Employees Day Awarding and Recognition Ceremony at MYTMCCC.
Other activities include Employees Day 2023 with Beks Battalion at MYTMCCC, Jazz Night 2023 at the Bantayan Park, and Comedy Night with Beks Battalion also at the Bantayan Park on February 17; RTNHS Day at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Sports Center, Gawad Bagonhon 2023 at MYTMCCC, and Best Product Search at Agro Barangay Booths on February 18.
Also, there’s a Party at the Park at the Bantayan Park every 7 p.m. from February 16 to 18.
During the highlights on February 19, a thanksgiving mass will be held at the St. John the Baptist Parish Church in the morning to be followed by the 57th Charter Day Civic Military Parade on the city streets.
In the afternoon, Bagonhons and guests will witness the Babaylan Street Dance on the city streets, the Babaylan Stage Competition, the Sugilanon sang mga Barangay, Clean and Green Awarding, the Agro Trade Fair Awarding, and the Best Product Search Awarding Ceremony, all at MYTMCCC.
They will also be treated to a charter anniversary concert at the Sports Center at 9 p.m. featuring Ben & Ben and the Chocolate Factory. The concert is free.
Other pocket events include OFW Day at MYTMCCC on February 22, and Bazaar N D’ Park at Bantayan Park from February 23 to 25.