16 August 2005
Alcala veem proposes a park on earthdike
ALCALA – A park on the dike.
The engaging eco-tourism prospects of such an idea is now being seriously studied by Vice Mayor Clemente Arboleda, Jr. of this town in his desire to breath life to an otherwise drab earthdike of the Agno river in sitio Patalan, barangay San Pedro Ili here.
Arboleda, who owns several farms in the area, said he has made initial talks with Engr. Fidel Ginez, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 1 and project manager of the Agno Flood Control System for the construction of a public park at the dike.
While Ginez is initially unreceptive to the idea, saying that a dike is “first and foremost a flood control structure,” the DPWH chief supposedly believes some other better practical uses can be made of the earthdike, given enough and thorough studies in cooperation with barangay and town officials.
Arboleda said he is not giving up easily however as he cited the Dipalo river in San Quintin that crosses into a national park The park was declared thru a bill sponsored by then Senator Loren Legarda. The park is now known far and wide and visited by picnickers and various outdoor-lovers who wish to enjoy rustic sceneries while swimming,eating or having fun as a group.
“Such a sprawling area as that earthdike in San Pedro Ili should not be confined to being a road and dike,” Arboleda said. “I really believe in turning the area into a theme park , or even a promenade area , even only in the summer.
Other local officials said people who have visited the earthdike commonly comment on its tourism potential , saying it affords a view all around “that calms the senses and nerves.”
The engaging eco-tourism prospects of such an idea is now being seriously studied by Vice Mayor Clemente Arboleda, Jr. of this town in his desire to breath life to an otherwise drab earthdike of the Agno river in sitio Patalan, barangay San Pedro Ili here.
Arboleda, who owns several farms in the area, said he has made initial talks with Engr. Fidel Ginez, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 1 and project manager of the Agno Flood Control System for the construction of a public park at the dike.
While Ginez is initially unreceptive to the idea, saying that a dike is “first and foremost a flood control structure,” the DPWH chief supposedly believes some other better practical uses can be made of the earthdike, given enough and thorough studies in cooperation with barangay and town officials.
Arboleda said he is not giving up easily however as he cited the Dipalo river in San Quintin that crosses into a national park The park was declared thru a bill sponsored by then Senator Loren Legarda. The park is now known far and wide and visited by picnickers and various outdoor-lovers who wish to enjoy rustic sceneries while swimming,eating or having fun as a group.
“Such a sprawling area as that earthdike in San Pedro Ili should not be confined to being a road and dike,” Arboleda said. “I really believe in turning the area into a theme park , or even a promenade area , even only in the summer.
Other local officials said people who have visited the earthdike commonly comment on its tourism potential , saying it affords a view all around “that calms the senses and nerves.”
