The Puerto Princesa City Balayong People’s Park will be inaugurated on Saturday, in simple rites and with only a selected number of guests.
The inauguration will be highlighted by planting of the ‘symbolic Balayong trees’ in the morning and a tour for media practitioners and vloggers in the afternoon, Assistant City Administrator Carlo Abogado said.
“We are really pushing for the park to become a tourist attraction na puwedeng isama sa city tour. Kasi umaasa tayo usually sa Sabang, sa Honda Bay, pero kung halimbawa malakas ang alon, mayroon namang park na pwedeng puntahan ang mga turista,” Abogado told Palawan News.
“We also invited young vloggers for the inauguration tomorrow, para rin makapagbigay sila ng mga suggestions kung ano pang mga attractions ang pwedeng idagdag,” he added.
Mayor Lucilo Bayron has stressed the importance of parks and green spaces in the city not only as tourist attractions but areas where wildlife and plants can thrive.
The park’s construction began in 2019, wherein existing structures such as the sports complex and access roads were improved, according to Abogado. Additional attractions, such as the upcoming interactive water fountains and the zipline, will be unveiled during the inauguration.
Other attractions being constructed include an outdoor amphitheater, a wedding shrine, and an open auditorium.
The Balayong People’s Park project encompasses 63 hectares of public property, according to the Office of the City Architect. Included in the area are the Puerto Princesa Sports Complex, the Old and New City Hall Buildings, and portions of the Department of Agriculture (DA) existing complex. Parts of the DA complex will be developed into a Forest Park, which will be developed into a green parking area, chess center and meditation garden.
