Bazaar to raise funds for park

THE MANDAUE Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has put up a Christmas bazaar to raise funds for the rehabilitation of the Pajara Bridge Park located below the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Marlene Gatpatan-Bedia, MCCI executive director, revealed that the Brooklyn Bridge Park will be their inspiration in rehabilitating the Pajara Park.

She said they intend to make Mandaue City’s park a best kept place and make it a tourist destination.

However, the local government still needs to address the problem on informal settlers in the area as this is used as a relocation site for fire victims from Looc last year.

Mandaue City’s Christmas bazaar will be up until December 26. Products like sandals, toys, clothes as well as Mandaue’s livelihood program products such as pillows made of cut plastic, paper-woven bags, and rosary beads made of magazines are sold.

The bazaar also have several food stalls. Participating stalls pay P15,000 as rental.

Bedia said they saw the potential of the place as it is near the sea and can be utilized for other activities.

They need about P6 million for the first phase of the rehabilitation, which will be done in three stages.

Part of the plan is the putting up of food stalls, bicycle lanes, benches, comfort rooms and perimeter fence.

Once the rehabilitation is done, they will rename it to Mandaue Bridge Park.

The park’s original name is from the construction company that developed the area.

MCCI will also be asking the local government to put up a police outpost in the area to keep tourists safe.

Next year, MCCI plans to hold more fund raising activities like benefit concerts and dinner shows for the park project./Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos