CEBU, Philippines — The national government has poured in at least P12.3 million into Mandaue City coffers.
Mandaue was among the 77 recipients of the Green Green Green program, which aims to make the country’s 145 cities more livable and sustainable through the development of public open spaces.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has earmarked P2.59 billion for the program.
The P12.3-million allocation will be used for the second phase construction of the city’s 17-hectare Mangrove Eco Park in Barangay Paknaan, said Architect Marlo Ocleasa, city planning and development officer.
The budget will be released next month.
The eco-park is the outfall of the 24-kilometer Butuanon River, the city’s largest waterway and considered as “biologically dead” since 1992.
Ocleasa said the eco-park is seen to help revive the river.
Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, for his part, said the city government is thankful for the funding from DBM.
"This project is among the major components of our Butuanon river rehabilitation program," he said.
The second phase, which will complete the project, covers the construction of an additional 700-meter boardwalk, bird blinds, receiving area, nursery, lamp posts, and aquasilviculture, an integration of aquaculture with mangroves.
The phase one, on the other hand, includes three watchtowers, three viewing decks, an assembly area, and a 1,047-meter boardwalk amounting to P5 million, which was funded by the city government.
The construction of the first phase started two weeks ago, said Ocleasa. (FREEMAN)