Cebu City eyes developmeny, renaming of eco park

CEBU, Philippines — A year after its groundbreaking and was left idle since then, plans on re-construction and renaming of the Cebu City Eco Park is being eyed by the Cebu City government.

As a prelude to the re-construction and redesign plans, which is estimated to cost P300 million, an eco bike and run event is set on March 15 and 16, dubbed as "1st Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia Eco Bike and Run Challenge.”

It is aimed at exposing the area to the public and to introduce its potential, which has long been dormant.

Lawyer Gerardo Carillo, Eco Park Management vice chairperson, said in a press conference yesterday that the seven-hectare site located in Brgy. Kalunasan will be renamed the Cebu City Wildlife Conservation and Protection Center (CCWCPC).

On Oct. 27, 2023, it was reported that the old Cebu Zoo, which was closed in 2016, will be converted into a Cebu City wildlife resource and protection facility. It will be called the Cebu City Eco Park.

The groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies were spearheaded by former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama.

However, no construction followed after the groundbreaking, Carillo said.

“Kutob raman didto (groundbreaking)... way activity, wa tanan,” said Carillo.

Carillo said, upon the directive of Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, plans to improve the facility have been laid down.

Carillo said it will be a five-year plan and will be executed with the help of the business sector, particularly the Cebu City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the hotel industry, among others.

He said the plan needs the help of the private sector as the City Government’s procurement procedure would take longer, which may result in delays in acquiring resources and supplies for the animals that will be housed in the center.

“Ngano man? They (business sector) would also like to have a place nga bisitahon sa mga turista, and kaning eco park is actually wala lang gyud naka-notice ang tanan nga dako kaayo siya'g potential because it’s a forest in an urban area,” said Carillo.

He said the previous administration was supposed to have a budget appropriation for the construction of the eco park, but it was zeroed out.

“Unya gitangtang ang mga budget for unknown reason. Unya karon gibalik na ni Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia. I don’t know what happened to the budget nganong wa siya mahinayon,” said Carillo.

He said no allocation has been set aside for the planned development of the eco park, but the mayor has assured that funding will be available whenever it is already needed.

Carillo said the eco park management is in the process of preparing the needed requirements for the plan.

On the establishment of a habitat, Carillo said his team has requested a budget of P52 million, which will be included in the proposed Supplemental Budget 1. Aside from this, a separate funding request was also made for the purchase of animals, which would cost up to P20 million.

During the press conference, the design plan was also presented, with the cost estimated to run up to P300 million. This is the funding they hope to collaborate with the private sector.

The plan included an administrative building, a multi-story parking structure, a rooftop garden, commercial spaces, an amphitheater with a stage, a crocodile park, a solar-powered man-made waterfall, a 4,000-square-meter bird sanctuary, an aviary, zoo facilities, and viewing decks for the lion and tiger enclosures. (CEBU NEWS)