The city needs more than P685.5 million to pursue the proposed overall development of the Wright Park, one of the premier tourist destinations in the country’s Summer Capital, to help boost the gradual and safe revival of the local tourism industry that has been heavily impacted by the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
City Planning and Development Officer Arch. Donna R. Tabangin stated that the required funds will be used to further improve Wright Park to become one of the city’s main attractions with new and innovative attractions.
Earlier, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong tasked the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) to prepare a comprehensive master development plan for Wright Park as a blueprint for the proposed overall development of the park which could be done even through phases depending on the availability of the funds.
Under the proposed Wright Park development plan, the proposed preservation zone or the so-called biodiversity area needs a funding of more than P117 million, the conservation zone that includes the gazebo, rotunda, pool of pines among others – P136 million, recreational zone that includes alfresco dining, picnic grounds, lawn or open field among others – P79.3 million, visitors services and facilities zone that includes horse stables – P84.1 million and parking, commercial stalls – P210.6 million and access zone that includes the existing trails and sidewalks among others – P58.5 million.
The proposed development of the Wright Park is part of the ongoing initiatives of the local government to ensure the readiness of the various tourism sites in the city when the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases will allow the resumption of tourism-related activities.
Initially, the city got some P20 million from the annual budget of the public works department for the improvement of the drainage system in Wright Park while another P30 million was committed by House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to be included in next year’s budget for the implementation of feasible projects to further enhance the said tourist destination.
The Wright Park development plan will be used by the local government as menu for government agencies to choose the projects they could fund in close coordination with the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) to ensure that any work implemented in the various zones conforms to the said plan.
City officials are hopeful these projects in the Wright Park development plan will help in the gradual and safe revival of the local tourism industry once tourism-related activities. By Dexter A. See
