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Philippines

DoT leads in Rizal Park rehab
Source: Manila Bulletin
Author: -
Date: 2005-07-29
 
Rizal Park or Luneta as popularly known, remains a necessity to the Manila urban jungle. It still works wonders, supplying city lungs with ocean air.

And there’s always the magnificent sunset over Manila Bay to behold. But do tourists come to this place?

In order to attract more tourists to visit the Philippines, particularly the place, the Department of Tourism (DoT) is taking the lead in undertaking a major facelift of Rizal Park.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said the rehabilitation of Rizal Park is part of the agency’s initiative to attract both domestic and international visitors and to yield positive results in the tourism front of the Philippines.

The DoT will make do with the R500,000 rehabilitation budget with the assistance of the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC).

"We are enticing tourists – local and international – to visit historical destinations in the country. Rizal Park is one of them. If these places are neglected, we can’t tell them to go and see the different places. It is, therefore, a must that we breathe a new life to the Rizal Park and other sites that boasts of the Philippines’ rich history and culture," Durano said.

Since the establishment of Rizal Park as a national park in 1963, Durano noted that this is the first time that pathways, particularly those in front of the Rizal Monument and along the central lagoon will undergo renovation.

Earlier, the DoT had put a larger than life bronze statue of 16th century Lapu-Lapu, Philippine hero at Agrifina Circle, a controversial move that elicited remarks ranging from being out of place to obscene.

But the move was over and the statue of Lapu-lapu is among those installed in the place.

NPDC Director Carlito Fajardo said "The replanting of bougainvilleas and repainting of fences are being done by employees of the park, vendors and photographers."

Improvements include the repair of electrical connections, among others, Fajardo said.

"We are also coming up with new brochures as soon as the park’s rehabilitation is complete to guide the tourists visiting the area," Fajardo stressed.

Rizal Park history dated way back in the 1800s during the time of Spanish rule in the country.

While Manila’s social and business activities were confined within Intramuros, a small area just south of the walls was cleared by the Spaniards to prevent attacks from the restless natives.

The area has a small moonlike shape (lunette). In time the name was changed to Luneta.

In 1913, in honor of national hero Jose P. Rizal who was executed by the Spaniards on the same site, Luneta became Rizal Park.
 

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