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By Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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Wednesday, august 2, 2017
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LEIPO
An artist’s perspective of the planned P100-million transfer and revamp of the iconic Freedom Grandstand and the revival of the Sunburst Park. “Our promotions for the local economy are being anchored on the Iloilo river. As such we are ensuring our future growth by protecting our river, incorporating future plans that will not destroy its beauty while capitalizing on its vast economic potential,” shared LEIPO head Ritchel Gavan.
ILOILO City – The Iloilo City government is doubling down on its vow to sustain growth and development in the city while maintaining environmental accountability and keeping the Iloilo River clean, expressed a local public official recently.
“Our promotions for the local economy are being anchored on the Iloilo river. As such we are ensuring our future growth by protecting our river, incorporating future plans that will not destroy its beauty while capitalizing on its vast economic potential,” said Ritchel Gavan, head of the Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office (LEIPO), during a recent “Community Huddle” of Iloilo shapers and local stakeholders.
In the past few years, Ilonggos have witnessed the development of the Iloilo River, through the introduction of the Iloilo River Esplanade – a park that runs along the length of the river, the construction of new ports and an effort to improve those already in use, a continuing endeavor to halt pollution, and most notably the removal of shanty houses and informal settlements that have clustered on different areas near the riverbanks of our city.
“[Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog] envisions Iloilo City to be a premier smart city of excellence, as well as a ‘SMART’ metropolis – an acronym that stands for our priority industries: services, manufacturing, agribusiness, arts & culture, research and technology, and tourism,” added Gavan.
The city official highlighted the planned P100-million transfer and revamp of the iconic Freedom Grandstand – world-known as the stage of the annual Dinagyang Festival – so that the pavilion faces the Iloilo River.
“Construction will start on the new Iloilo Freedom Grandstand anytime soon,” shared Gavan. “A venue where the city can converge and showcase the world famous Dinagyang Festival and other city-wide tourism programs.”
The LEIPO head added that the former site of the Freedom Grandstand will give rise to the proposed revival of the “Sunburt Park” – its name inspired by the circular design of the space’s proposed layout, with rays seemingly jutting out from the center of the park.
“We’re excited about the revival of the Sunburst Park – right now this is the current Freedom Grandstand. So once the old Freedom Grandstand is moved to the other side, facing the river, the old location of the grandstand will become the Sunburst Park,” explained Gavan.
“It will serve as an open space for local and foreign tourists and a venue for recreation, as one visits the newly-restored heritage sites along the river,” she concluded./PN
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