PARK IMPROVEMENT. Mayor Evelio Leonardia (3rd from right) and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran (2nd from right) lead the unveiling of the improved Bacolod City Rizal Park on Friday (June 24, 2022). The project was implemented under the "Green, Green, Green" program with allocation from the Local Government Support Fund-Assistance to Cities. (Photo courtesy of Raquel Gariando)
BACOLOD CITY – Three public parks in this city have undergone a facelift using a total of PHP27.8-million allocation from the Local Government Support Fund-Assistance to Cities (LGSF-AC).
Implemented under the "Green,Green,Green" program, the projects include improvements in the Rizal Park and Negros Occidental High School (NOHS) promenade, both located along Araneta Street, and the Zen garden adjacent to the children’s park behind the Government Center.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who led the series of unveiling activities on Friday, said the city government was able to avail of the funds during the term of Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado.
“All these were implemented with the funds of the national government. Let me very clear about this. This money is only meant for parks,” he told reporters.
Some PHP9.4 million has been allocated to rehabilitate the Rizal Park, including the provision of concrete curbs and gutter, security outpost and benches, shrubs and flowering plants, sidewalk and permeable pavers, additional street lamps, and recreational equipment for children, and an outdoor fitness area.
With an allocation of PHP6.5 million, the NOHS promenade improvements included landscaping and new lighting as well as repaired sidewalks, gutters, ramps, curbs, decorative walls, and pond.
Added features were new plant boxes, concrete benches, a waiting shed, and steel street railings.
The Zen Garden behind the Government Center has been planted with fresh shrubs and flowering plants and has improved sidewalks and permeable pavers, street lamp posts, trellises, and recreational equipment with funding of PHP11.9 million.
In 2019, the Department of Budget and Management issued Local Budget Circular 120 prescribing the guidelines on the release and utilization of the LGSF-AC.
The amount appropriated “shall be used to enhance the existing or develop new public open spaces in publicly-owned lands that are free and accessible to the general public, and serve the purpose of making cities sustainable, livable and resilient by designing for the environment and for the people”, it said. (PNA)
