THE Dagupan City government is set to construct a riverside boulevard along the southern bank of the Pantal River that can be used partly as a promenade lane and a detour road leading to the about-to-be completed Dawel-Pantal-Lucao Road.

The city government has sent out letters to at least 55 lot owners near the Pantal River bank asking them to donate part of their property so the planned project can be realized.

The letter, prepared by City Legal Officer George Mejia, detailed the plans of the city government to construct the riverside boulevard from the back of the Star Plaza Hotel towards the back of the Land Transportation Office.

“We asked the lot owners to donate a portion of their property citing the benefit to them, particularly, the appreciation of the value of their properties once the project is realized,” Mejia said.

To be funded solely by the city, the new boulevard is one of the priority projects spelled out this year by Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr.

The planned boulevard is expected to boost tourism and unclog the daily heavy volume of   traffic along A.B. Fernandez Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare.

Mejia   pointed out that there is already an existing road at the back of Star Plaza Hotel that will only require upgrading and widening for the planned boulevard.

He warned, however, that if the lot owners refuse to part with portions of their property, the city might be compelled to file an action for imminent domain with the court.

The proposed boulevard will cut through Me-Lee’s Restaurant and will, therefore, have to be removed.

 At the same time, Mejia announced that the city government will also build a wharf at the bank of the Calmay River to be used for the planned Tri-City Ferry Service expected to be launched sometime in June.

The tri-city ferry will link the cities of Dagupan, Alaminos and San Fernando via the Lingayen Gulf.

Mejia said the city will use a crane-way built at the bank of the Calmay River by the Toyo Construction which built the about-to-be finished P900 million bridge across Pantal River.

“We have asked the contractor not to remove the crane-way from its location so the city can use it for the proposed wharf,” Mejia said. —LM

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