Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia says tourism is going to become the biggest industry in the world, as he delivers a welcome message at the Tourism Summit at the Provincial Capitol Sunday. (City PIO photo)
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The city government of Bacolod presented to members of the media yesterday its proposed Tourism Projects under the administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
City Planning head Mary Jean Ramos said the city has allocated about P100 million as initial budget for projects that include the Bacolod Coastal Boulevard in Barangay Banago, Bacolod Public Plaza conservation and restoration, Bacolod Sum-ag River Development Plan, and Bacolod Nature’s Park in Barangay Alangilan.
She stressed the construction for the Nature’s Park will start this year. They allocated about P2 million for the construction of the pavilion alone, with the total estimated cost of the project at P48 million.
The park is being eyed for meetings, conferences, trainings, and agriculture demonstration.
Meanwhile, about P10 million has been allocated for the Sum-ag River, and the project has already been started using the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) fund from the Department of Tourism (DOT) and P5 million from the 20-percent development fund of the city.
They proposed the establishment of floating restaurants in Sum-ag River under a public-private partnership scheme.
Ramos cannot yet disclose as to how much the total budget for the Sum-ag River will be, because they are still determining the exact area for the project. The development plan includes a boulevard and a feasibility study for the coastal road from Barangays Banago to Punta Taytay, which has been submitted to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for approval.
Ramos said the concepts and designs were contributed by on-the-job trainees from the La Consolacion College School of Architecture.
Leonardia, for his part, said he has yet to determine as to when this project will be finished, but assured that so long as he is mayor, he will fulfill the said plans. It will be remembered that prior to entering electoral politics, Leonardia was active in the tourism sector.
The proposed projects were also presented by the city during the Tourism Summit last Sunday at the Provincial Capitol./WDJ