BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance designating the Burnham Lake Drive, particularly from the Ganza to Solibao restaurants, as a ‘family zone.’
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elmer Datuin stated all vehicles, except government vehicles servicing the park, are prohibited to enter, use or park within the stretch between the Melvin Jones football grounds and the Burnham Lake starting from Ganza to Solibao restaurants.
The ordinance stipulated the said area shall be established as a ‘family zone’ open for jogging, exercising, leisure waking, zumba dancing, playing among others.
Under the proposed ordinance, a fine of P500 shall be paid by the driver of the vehicle found violating the provisions of the ordinance.
The ordinance added the Burnham Park was originally intended as a wide green park that would serve as the breathing lung of the city and later on designed as an area for relaxation and recreational activities.
During the previous Burnham Park summits organized by the local government to gather the sentiments of the people on how to effectively and efficiently manage the park, stakeholders appealed for the user-friendly and ecologically balanced Burnham Park.
In consonance with the various advocacies of stakeholders, the ordinance asserted there is a need to put up a ‘family zone’ along Burnham Park that would provide families and friends a safe place to exercise, jog, dance, play and socialize.
It added an excellent location to establish a ‘family zone’ is along Lake Drive from Ganza to Solibao restaurants considering that it is the only spacious area that could be utilized for the desired purpose of families visiting the park.
Originally, the ordinance stated the said street was not open to vehicles until the passage of Resolution No. 240, series of 1992 that allowed the entry of light vehicles to decongest the traffic being experienced due to alleged diggings done along the city’s main roads then.
According to the ordinance, there is an urgent need to again close the said street to help retain the original purpose of the park as a peaceful environment providing fresh air and wide spaces for residents and visitors of the city where they can enjoy being outdoors as a community free from noise and air pollution caused by vehicular traffic and to designate the said area as a ‘family zone.’
Aside from encouraging wellness enthusiasts, the ordinance claimed the closure of the said portion of Burnham Park will contribute in efforts to reduce air pollution inside the park because vehicles will no longer be allowed to traverse the said area.
The ordinance cited the general welfare provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines allows the local government to regulate the use of roads for the benefit of the public in general to allow residents and visitors to freely move around the designated ‘family zone’ for them to pursue their desired activities in the area.
By Dexter A. See
