REFLECTING POOL-INTERACTIVE FOUNTAIN

AMID questions about the priority that the Guico administration is placing on its plan to build the Reflecting Pool and Interactive Fountain that required the cutting of trees in the Capitol grounds,  Gov. Ramon Guico III remains firm in his decision to build it.

The governor stressed that it is a “product of thorough planning and deliberations of both the executive and legislative branches of the provincial government, along with multi-agencies concerned as well as grassroots leaders, the reflecting pool project, which is a historic first in the province, will define ‘meditation beyond aesthetics.’

As early as November 8, 2023 during the groundbreaking, Governor Ramon V. Guico III said the project “is one of the significant undertakings that will spur economic growth and development  and define the vision of the present administration to make Pangasinan a premier province of great opportunities, sustained socio-economic growth, and a place where one can experience life at its best”.

The Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Center said the reflecting pool will be similar to that of The Mansion in Baguio City and the Taj Mahal in India, while the interactive fountain will have the same features as the dancing fountain in Vigan.

The governor said the provincial government complied with all requirements for the cutting of 64 trees of different species, from an ocular inspection to inventory of trees by CENRO-DENR.

A tree-cutting permit was approved by DENR on January 16, 2024 that requires the replacement for the trees with, 3,200 seedlings to be planted in different areas in addition to the 150,000 seedlings planted by the provincial government under its “Pangasinan Green Canopy” program.

Before the tree-cutting permit was issued, DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) issued a Certificate of Non-Coverage on August 9, 2023.

In an interview, DPWH Region I’s Mark Quilon, said tree cutting commenced after public consultations with affected barangays Poblacion and Libsong, and Lingayen local government.

The Provincial Human Settlements and Urban Development Authority Office said the National Historical Commission of the Philippines also approved the plan to relocate the MacArthur marker along with those war relics at the Veterans Park near the baywalk.

And, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Resolution No. 1057-2023 on December 11, 2023, favorably endorsing and interposing “no objection” to the redevelopment of the Provincial Capitol Complex. (PIMRO/RRB,CCB)

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