By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Global Business Power (GBP) subsidiaries Panay Energy Development Corp (PEDC) and Panay Power Corp (PPC) broke ground for its Blue Koi Lagoon and Butterfly Gardens at the LaPaz Plaza Thursday, Dec 9, 2021.
Present in the groundbreaking were officials of GBP and Meralco PowerGen Corp (MGen) led by President and CEO Jaime Azurin, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, city government officials, and other officials from the public and private sectors.
GBP is part of MGen which is the power investment arm of the Manny Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco).
Azurin and Treñas also formalized the partnership through a ceremonial signing of plans and commitment.
The projects will result in massive overhaul of LaPaz plaza and transform it into the newest tourist attraction of the city.
The P15-million public-private partnership will transform the existing plaza lagoon into a 4,850-square meter “Blue Koi Lagoon” and the construction of a 2,510-square meter “Green Butterfly Garden.”
Azurin said the projects were “gifts of gratitude” to the Iloilo City government’s “wholehearted” support for the company and its endeavors.
“We at the GBP sincerely hope that in transforming the plaza’s lagoon into a blue koi lagoon and in establishing the Green Butterfly Garden, we can be of assistance in elevating the La Paz Plaza as a modern recreation area for culture and sports, wherein residents and tourists alike could enjoy, unwind, and nurture creativity. May these projects somehow lift our spirits as we gradually recover from the pandemic situation. Hopefully by the time that the project is completed by the end of next year, we have fully returned to our normal lives and see our children freely running around, people playing sports, and families gathering in this newly refreshed park,” Azurin said.
MGen First Vice President Engr. Petronilo Madrid called the groundbreaking a “dream come true” for the company, and committed its continued support for the city government’s development and tourism projects and programs.
“This is a dream come true for MGen and [GBP] as we partnered with the local government unit (LGU) and worked on legacy projects for Iloilo [City]. We are excited for this project. I hope that everyone is also enthusiastic to see this project become a reality,” Madrid said.
In his keynote speech, Treñas said that the city government was “excited” that their dream for the plaza as an eco-friendly destination would come true, which in turn will help the city become one of the most liveable in the country, with GBP’s help.
“We are excited that finally our plans and dreams for La Paz Plaza will come to fruition. These projects will provide eco-friendly attractions to our residents and it will include different species of butterflies and food plants for their habitat. There will also be viewing areas for our children, to see their cycle making, the garden, a way to provide knowledge especially for the young ones,” Treñas said.
The mayor thanked GBP for its coal-fired power plants, which were first constructed in La Paz district since 2008.
“Without the coal plant, the development of Iloilo City as one of the fastest-growing, highly urbanized cities would not have happened. We are among the leading cities for BPOs because we have a very good electric power supply, thanks to [GBP], which is also one of our top taxpayers in the city,” the mayor added.
He also thanked the company for the projects, which he said was close to the heart of his wife, Rosalie, who also celebrated her birthday on Thursday.
“It was in 2019 when my wife started to talk to [GBP] about her dream project, together with some from the business sector, this butterfly garden, and also the koi pond, which are both anchored on our desire to create more sustainable projects that will educate and inspire the Ilonggo community to go green,” Treñas said.
La Paz Plaza is conveniently located within barangays Lopez Jaena and Divinagracia which GBP adopted for its social responsibility projects.
According to Treñas, the project is a dream come true as the city hopes to encourage more children and families to value the importance of the environment.
Currently, Iloilo City government is undergoing the rehabilitation of the different plazas in the metro to promote sustainability among its constituents.
“Kadako gid sang impact, ang tanan nga plaza ginaubra, ang Plaza Libertad, Jaro, pati Arevalo manugsugod na man, kag ang Molo nag-untat lang kay Christmas na. But pinakadako gid ang plaza sa La Paz that is why is really a dream come true. Kon ang aton mga kabataan makadto sa butterfly garden, makadto sila sa Koi Lagoon, they will see the importance of the environment and ara sa akon waay na ya may katumbas nga value,” he said.
Aside from the green projects, the mayor said that the city government will also establish a learning and community center at the La Paz Plaza. The city will also shoulder the rehabilitation of walkways, fences, and lights.
To prevent flooding, the city government will also establish a retention pond in the area.
Azurin hopes that by elevating La Pa Plaza as the model recreation area for culture and sports, they will also lift the spirits of Ilonggos amid the pandemic.
“May this project lift our spirits as we gradually recover from the pandemic’s situation. Hopefully, by the time the project is completed by the end of next year, we will return to our normal lives and see children free running around and people play sports and family gather in this new and refreshed plaza,” he said.
The construction of the development project will start by January next year and is expected to be finished by September to October next year. (With a report from ERS)
