QC Circle underpass inauguration set

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will mark the city’s 68th founding anniversary on Monday by leading city officials in the inauguration of a P41-million underpass linking the City Hall with the historic Quezon City Memorial Circle.

City Treasurer Victor Endriga said the opening ceremonies signal the start of a two-week celebration of the city’s anniversary.

Endriga, who chairs the foundation day committee, said that with the opening of the underpass, pedestrians no longer need to cross the Elliptical Road to get to the circle, a favorite haunt of joggers, students and nature lovers.

He said that after the opening rites, City Hall employees will pay a courtesy call on Belmonte, who will celebrate his birthday on Oct. 2.

Endriga said the newly completed underpass will complement the overpass constructed near the Philippine Coconut Authority (Philcoa) office, which was completed early this year.

He said the construction of the underpass is part of the city government’s program to provide residents easy access to the Memorial Circle, where a shrine and a museum dedicated to the late President Manuel Quezon are located.

The city government has also converted open spaces into parks and recreation areas to enable residents to commune with nature after work.

Among the popular destinations aside from the Memorial Circle are the Balara Nature Park and the sprawling La Mesa Ecological Park, a world class park with a hiking trail, a lagoon for leisure boating, a swimming pool and an orchidarium.  – Perseus Echeminada