The Megaworld Corporation, in partnership with the Bacolod City government, broke ground yesterday on the future site of the Bacolod Welcome Park, considered to be Bacolod City’s newest iconic attraction.

The site is located within the 7.5-hectare Northill Town Center, a section of Megaworld’s 53-hectare Northill Gateway township, situated along the Bacolod-Silay Airport access road.

A welcome sign measuring 7.2 meters in height will greet both incoming and outgoing visitors to the city, with a design modeled after the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign in the US.

Megaworld Senior Vice President Jericho Go said the project is not just a milestone for the people of Bacolod but also for Megaworld.

The construction of the marker will not cost the city government, he added, as it will be integrated in Megaworld’s Northill Town Center.

However, electricity for the marker will be paid for by the city government.

In a speech by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, he said the marker would be a “first” for the Philippines as it would not only welcome tourists but also provide amenities, such as souvenir and coffee shops.

“This will also become the icon of Bacolod,” the mayor asserted.

He was also optimistic the marker would be completed in time for this year’s MassKara Festival in October.

Meanwhile, Megaworld said, aside from the sign project, they are also expecting to begin construction on the Northill Town Center by the end of this year, which will include a church, supermarket, cinemas, open parks, and water features./DGB, WDJ