QC congressman seeks to revive Balara’s glory

A congressman from Quezon City, in a bid to support the program of the city government to revive the old glory of Balara, has filed a bill seeking to declare the 50-hectare forest park as a national park.

Rep. Mat Defensor (3rd district) said that declaration of the Balara park into a national park would be a big boost to the program being pursued by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. for the development of parks all over the city.

In the 1950’s, Balara used to be the only recreation area in Quezon City. It had a concert area, where nightly shows were staged.

An old swimming pool and a hiking trail around the area as well as a playground still exists in the area, which is an ideal place for families seeking to take a break from the busy metropolis.

The development of parks was among the major programs implemented by Belmonte after assuming his post as the city’s chief executive.

Among the parks that are now fully operational is the La Mesa Dam Resort, a nature park with a lagoon ideal for boating, hiking and biking. It has a horse trail, a large swimming pool and virgin forest rich in wildlife.

Defensor said that he will also file more bills at the House of Representatives to support the development and social programs being implemented by the mayor for the benefit of the 2.4 million residents of the city.