The much-awaited renovation of the Ibaloy Heritage Garden at Burnham Park will soon start, according to the City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo).
Cepmo Head Rhenan Diwas, during the 15th Ibaloy Day on Feb. 23, announced the project received a P78 million funding and will soon commence construction.
Diwas said the design for the garden underwent a series of consultations with the Ibaloy community.
“We know that the development of the heritage park is very sensitive; it should reflect the culture and tradition of the Ibaloys,” said Diwas, an Ibaloy himself.
The project is already at the Bids and Awards Committee to wait for the bidding of “willing and able contractors”.
The revamped heritage garden will include the improvement of the avong to make it sturdier against rains, while the grounds will remain an open ground with drainage in place for the celebrations of the community.
Also, the highlight of the project would be the statue of Ibaloy chieftain Mateo Cariño.
“Hopefully the project will be done before the October celebration,” he said, referring to the month-long Ibaloy Festival celebrated every October in the city.
Diwas asked the Ibaloy community to help in monitoring the implementation of the project and to report any corrections or comments directly to Cepmo.
Earlier, the design for the Ibaloy Heritage Garden was made by planners led by City Planning and Development Coordinator Donna Tabangin and Councilor Mylen Yaranon, which features a neo-vernacular axis.
Neo-vernacular architecture is a way of asserting the distinctiveness of Filipino architecture by dominating an architectural design with Filipino features.
The design features Cariño mounted on a horse, and also includes the history of the Ibaloy nation. – Ofelia C. Empian
