Lawyer Cerilio Neil Pacana, the provincial legal officer, said the planetarium located in El Salvador City was initiated by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA).
"As projected, in the second or third week of August, the planetarium will finish its construction provided no hindrance will be encountered along the way of the construction such as calamity or work stoppage as ordered by the national government," he said.
Pacana said the Planetarium Observatory is a national government-funded project and the provincial government. The provincial legal department facilitates the materialization of the establishment of the project by working on the documents to be secured from the office of the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) considering that the area is a public land.
PAGASA Administrator Vicente Malano said during the groundbreaking of the planetarium in Misamis Oriental that a second facility will also be built in Davao City.
One of the objectives of the said facility is to boost and enhance the students' learning in the field of science, especially in learning planets, constellations, and other astronomical objects.
Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Emano said the planetarium will bring the audience into the wonderful scenery of celestial bodies.
He also believed that the said attraction would also encourage more local and foreign tourists to visit the province, especially if the situation gets normal after the pandemic.
The planetarium will feature a large dome-shaped projection screen that visualizes constellations, planets, and other celestial objects that will appear in three-dimensional perspectives.
PAGASA hopes the planetarium would spark interest among young people to pursue science-related degrees.