San Jose Del Monte City lone district Rep. Rida Robes is equally proud and elated of the transformation that a once-avoided location in Barangay Dulong Bayan, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan has undergone.

That location is now the River Park Esplanade, which was inaugurated by Robes and city officials last Tuesday, Feb. 14.

"We are happy because we are giving malamig na simoy ng hangin, magandang lugar at ligtas na pwedeng lakaran, pwede rin mag exercise. So itong lugar na ito ay magsisilbing pahingahan ng mga tao, maglibang, mamasyal at higit sa lahat ay magmuni-muni kung ano ba ang plano nila sa kanilang buhay (We are happy because we are giving cool breeze along the river, a nice and safe place to stroll in, for exercising. This area will serve as a resting place, for leisure, and a place in which people can contemplate)," Robes said.

"Dito po nagsisimula ang aming pag-agapay sa bawat pamilyang San Joseño. Isang dating madilim na lugar, masikip, ayaw puntahan ng tao, dahil na rin sa inilpat sa amin na mga informal settlers, ngayon po ay ayaw na nilang umalis sa aming lungsod (Here's where we start assisting each San Joseño family. A place that was once not well-lighted, cramped, and avoided by people because of the informal settlers, is now always filled with people as they don't want to leave), she said.

The congresswoman, who chairs the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, is also upbeat with commerce and employment boom in her city.

The River Park Esplanade, however, is not yet complete as the city government also plans to establish a bike and jogging lane along the river bank.

Robes' husband, Mayor Arthur Robes, also took part in the park's inauguration.