Brgy ‘Clean and Green’ seen to boost Koronadal’s tourism
City Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena underscored the importance of transforming Koronadal to a ‘garbage free and beatifically landscape green city’ to further position the city as a more competitive tourist destination.
The Mayor believes that through the concerted efforts and solidarity of the entire community, the transformation of rural and urban areas all over the city into clean and green communities can be hastened.
In one of his pronouncements, the Local Chief Executive said that he is mandated to pay visit and inspect the barangays while ensuring the improvement and upliftment of the quality of life of its inhabitants. Highlighting his barangay empowerment program, under one of his 10-point Development Agenda on “Masigasig na Kabalikat o Katuwang ng Barangay at Tunay na Kaibigan ng Sitio”, the Mayor vowed to focus his efforts on empowering the grassroots through one of the development components – the creation of a sustainable program on cleanliness and orderliness.
“I am telling you now as a salesman, ibaligya ta ang siyudad sang Koronadal”, the Mayor addressed the evaluators of the Search for Best Performing Barangay. “The bigger reason to be highly competitive, dapat maging kakaiba ang bayan natin, na kapag mapapadaan ang mga tao, mapapabalik natin sila”, the Mayor added.
Through the Barangay Empowerment Program, the city government hopes to boost and elevate the quality of life of its people by empowering them. It is the thrust of the current administration to strengthen and empower the barangay, enabling them to maintain and sustain eventually their own development in accordance to its plan and pace. According to the Mayor, the 1 million peso monetary assistance given to the barangays is revolutionary.
The Mayor hopes to develop the city into a tourist hub and bring appreciation of what Koronadal can offer to the tourist, locals and its neighboring provinces. “Mahilig tayo sa maganda, let us go beyond that, why not apply it to the whole community. Make this city beautiful and sexy that will induce everyone that is passing by”, Mayor Ogena said.
On the other hand, City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Agnes Daguro stressed on the importance of identifying different interventions and make it sustainable. “We can dream with our Mayor, parang nai-invive sa atin ang kanyang dream”, Engr. Daguro said on the other hand.
Also, the Mayor avowed to develop potential tourism areas. In fact, the rehabilitation of the Rizal Park is underway – projected to cater the influx of tourists coming to the city. The locals of barangay Assumption ‘Bulol’ had initially developed the two (2) tourist attractions; the “Bong Gumne de Muhon” which means a big house within the boundary and the “Damweng Dmatal” which also means visit the plains- owned by two (2) respected families. “Isang siyudad na walang basura. We want for the tourist before going to other parts of the province na pumunta muna sa Bulol”, Mayor Ogena said.
“We cannot achieve it during our lifetime. But what is the virtue of Koronadal? To develop a small community that has impact to everybody”, Mayor Ogena said.
Having the tourism industry as vital part to the city’s economy, the city government is now working on implementing significant change and innovation, taking advantage on every opportunity to develop a new approach to attracting visitors, by utilizing available resources, its people and the gift of nature.