P20 M Burnham Park renovation approved

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY– The management of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority approved the release of P20 million for initial rehabilitation of Burnham Park, here particularly the Rose Garden and improve the image of the city’s premier tourist destination.

Mark Lapid, TEIZA chief operating officer, ordered the winning contractor, BP Cruz Builders and Trading, to pursue the implementation of the development plan within 10 days.

Earlier, Rep. Bernardo M. Vergara facilitated the release of P20 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund as the city’s counterpart so that the TIEZA will also release the P20 million it earlier pledged for the initial development of the park.

The 34-hectare Burnham Park was designed by American architect Daniel Burnham similar to the cities of Chicago Illinois and Washington D.C. to serve as a rest and recreation center for local residents and visitors.

The Rose Garden, which is a portion of the park where the bust of Daniel Burnham was erected, will be developed into a world-class floral center with improved seats suitable to the interest of senior citizens.

Vergara’s P20-million allocation was used by the government in improving lighting facilities and other improvements around the park.

According to Vergara, the initial improvements of the park is part of the ambitious P1.2-billion development plan for Burnham Park donated by the University of the Cordilleras as part of its corporate social responsibility.