Southern Leyte Gov. Mercado opens zoo in Maasin City

CEBU, Philippines - Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado on Saturday opened the doors of the Maasin Zoo for all visitors to come and see for themselves the latest man-made attraction the province can offer, according to a PIA-8 report.

“Finally, we can declare Southern Leyte open as the playground of Eastern Visayas,” Mercado said during the grand opening ceremony in Maasin City, an activity that was part of a series of events marking the 52nd anniversary celebration of the province last July 1.

The realization of the project, which took eleven years to materialize, was proof that President Benigno Aquino’s familiar mantra of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for big-ticket undertakings was doable, Mercado said.

The governor was referring to the close coordination between the provincial and city governments and their private partner, the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), led by its president Robert Castañares.

About three years ago, it was the SLCCI, with technical support from the DTI that drafted the tourism framework for the province by building five tourism hubs in key areas.

In April 2011, the first hub at Agas-Agas zipline adventure in Sogod town was inaugurated, an extreme adventure sport that keeps on attracting interested riders since its opening.

The Maasin Zoo, also called Maasin Wildlife and Nature Park, was the second hub. Soon to follow will be the canopy walk adventure in the forests of Silago, Sogod Bay Diving, and Limasawa Shrine, Mercado said.

Reverend Fr. Amiel Borneo later led the blessing of all the cages and facilities around the zoo, including housing complex of animals such as tigers, lions, crocodiles, snakes, birds, monkeys, camels, horses, and ostritches, among others. - THE FREEMAN