Esplanade soon to open in Legazpi

By Cet Dematera

A health-boosting esplanade or walkway worth P32 million that is adjacent to the four-kilometer Legazpi City Boulevard that is sandwiched between the Albay Gulf and the majestic Mayon Volcano is now 80 percent complete and soon to be opened to the public at yearend.

City Engineering Office (CEO) chief Clemente Ibo is anticipating that the 1.2-kilometer public walk structure would be drawing local and foreign visitors because of the unique feature of the pavement that is made of paver stones, believed to have therapeutic effect when pressed against the barefoot of the joggers.

Another unique feature of the esplanade is its location of being sandwiched between sea (Albay Gulf) and a river called Macabalo, Ibo said.

ESPLANADE This walkway beside the Legazpi City Boulevard is soon to open to the public.

“Its location is really unique that it possesses all the potentials to become another tourist-drawing destination in Legazpi City,” Ibo added.

He said it is ideal for leisure and physical fitness activities with the health benefiting paver stones as pavement.

“We will also put up uniform stalls that can be rented by the residents who would venture in small and medium businesses in order for them to generate additional income”, Ibo said.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said that the construction of the esplanade with health-boosting features is preferred by tourists both locally and abroad.

“That’s why we put up such tourist-drawing structure. And we decided to locate it along coastlines for a more serene environment and free from city hassles such as noise and air pollutions,” Rosal said.

Rosal is known for putting up tourist destinations that would showcase the city’s beautiful spots, including the cone-shaped Mayon Volcano and the panoramic Albay Gulf.

In anticipation of possible rise of the Macabalo and other rivers in the city during heavy rains, Ibo said the city government has already bought additional amphibious excavator to continuously dredge these waterways.

The budget for the esplanade construction was sourced out from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the city government.

The Sawangan Park Northern Boulevard and the Imelda Park are also additional destinations for domestic and foreign visitors aside from the soon to be opened health-boosting facility.