Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian on Tuesday, June 20, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Paw and Skate Parks which will be built under the North-Luzon Express Way (NLEX) Harbor Link in Barangay Karuhatan in the city.
The recreational parks are in line with the city government’s goal to build a more progressive and livable city and provide a space for families in the city to conduct various activities and spend their leisure time.
The Paw Park is an area which will serve as a playground for pets and resting area for their owners.
It will be built on a 533.30 square meters floor area and will feature several amenities, including a Paw activity area, Paw picnic area, sitting area, concrete walkway, and a bike parking area. The city government allotted P8,000,000 from its budget for the completion of the park.
Photo from Valenzuela City Public Information Office/ MANILA BULLETIN
The public skate park contains facilities dedicated to skateboard enthusiasts to use in their practice and leisure time including quarter pipe Ramps, stair sets, skate bowl, fun boxes, handrails, flat rails, grind boxes, “hubbas,” sitting benches, and bike racks.
“Ito po ay center for congregation; the center of a community. May matanda, may bata, may pamilya man o wala, studyanteng nagpa-practice, pet-lovers, church groups kung saan nagba-Bible study sila; all different sorts. Nakita po namin na kapag bumuo ka ng isang park, ito po ay nagiging sentro ng sama-sama ("This is a center for congregation; the center of a community. There are old people, there are children, whether they have a family or not, students doing practice, pet-lovers, church groups where they study the Bible; all different kinds. We saw that when you build a park, it becomes the center of the community)" Gatchalian said.
Present during the ceremony were Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad- Borja, Councilors Louie Nolasco, Chiqui Carreon, Gerald Galang, Niña Lopez, Ghogo Deato-Lee, Liga ng mga Barangay President Councilo Jonjon Bartolome, SK Federation President Councilor Goyong Serrano, Barangay Karuhatan Chairman Martell Soledad, President and General Manager of NLEX Corporation J. Luigi Bautista and officials, Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) officials, and the association of SKATE Pilipinas.
The city government also broke ground for the construction of the New People’s Center Building located at the City Government Complex, A. Pablo Street, Barangay Karuhatan on the same day.
The three-storey building will be built in a lot area of 1,164 square meters and floor area of 2,973 square meters.
It will house various city government facilities including the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), Child Protection Center, Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Office, Office of the Senior Citizens Affair, Solo Parents Office, Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), Public Information Office (PIO), Governance Tours and Events Unit (GTEU), Digital Communications Office (DCO), Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Office, and other amenities such as a social hall, and public toilets.
The local government said the building will serve as an extension of Valenzuela City Hall to provide more efficient and spacious office premises for the city government employees and to assist and provide more Valenzuelanos their rights and welfare.
It aded that the new building will also serve as a testament of the local government in providing quality service to every Valenzuelano who are laudable for their contribution in the city’s sustainable progress and nation building.