Mayor Lucilo Bayron during the opening of the Balayong People’s Park on Saturday morning, July 31, 2021. | Screen captured from the City Mayor’s Office Facebook page.
The Puerto Princesa City government inaugurated the Balayong People’s Park in a simple ceremony on Saturday morning.
The 63-hectare park is projected to become a new venue for sports and wellness events for residents and tourists alike.
A tour for media practitioners and vloggers was held to show the various finished and unfinished features of the Balayong People’s Park, as well as the newly-planted Balayong trees and new public market in Barangay Irawan.
The 5th Balayong Tree Planting and Nurturing Activity was held with a small number of participants at the covered tennis court.
Mayor Lucilo Bayron, in a speech, explained that because of Puerto Princesa’s growing population and tourists visiting the city, there is also a growing need for larger outdoor spaces to accommodate leisure activities.
“Ang mga parks natin dito sa Puerto Princesa ay ‘yong Rizal Park sa harap ng cathedral natin, ‘yong Children’s Park na hindi na pinupuntahan, napakaliit na area, tapos ‘yong Mendoza Park, at ‘yong park sa harap ng Coliseum. Kapag kinombine natin ang lahat ng area na ‘yan, palagay ko hindi lalampas ng dalawang ektarya. Napakaliit ng park area para sa isang fast-growing city,” he said.
Bayron added that a skateboarding park is also being built as one of the park’s attractions. He cited the sport’s newfound popularity with the youth because of skateboarder Margielyn Didal’s recent Olympic milestone.
“Ito ay coming soon. Skate[boarding] park para sa mga kabataan. Nakita ninyo ‘yong sa Olympics na Pilipina? Kaya magpapagawa tayo ng skate[boarding] park,” he added.
The program included a memorandum of understanding (MOU)-signing with city government officials and the symbolic planting of Balayong trees, in honor of a former Puerto Princesa mayor. There was aso a groundbreaking of new access roads at the Palawan State University (PSU) Sports Complex and a ribbon-cutting for the rotunda at the center of the park.
The Balayong People’s Park was developed as a green space where various outdoor activities could be held. The city government intends to make the park a top tourism attraction for the city tour, and as a viable alternative to the usual island hopping tours.
Bayron added that aside from promoting outdoor sports and holding events in the park, designated areas of the park will also be open to local restaurants and merchants. The zipline, another park attraction in the works, is planning to be named the “Screaming Eagle,” according to Bayron.
