By JUNE S. BLANCO

TREKKERS to Magsaysay Park and Logarita Spring in Bilar town now have better access to both natural attractions.

This after Gov. Erico Aumentado recently led inaugural rites of the newly concreted 878.6-lineal meter stretch of the Magsaysay Park and Logarita Spring Road .

Shaded most of the time by the canopy of naturally growing and planted trees, the roadway is five meters wide and passes by the entrance to the swimming pool with flowing mountain spring water, all the way into the Magsaysay Park – a camping ground on a clearing accessible by a road cut through a hill.

The spring is fast becoming a favorite cooling place and picnic area for locals and visitors alike. For hygiene purposes, the pool is emptied every Friday to ensure that the water is all fresh when bathers come in droves on Saturdays and Sundays.

Mayor Fanuel Cadeliña and Provincial Board member Ester Corazon Galbreath who used to be mayor herself clarified that they do not chlorinate the pool as the water is also used to irrigate the surrounding rice lands.

On the other hand, Magsaysay Park boasts of a local population of monkeys that can be mischievous at times as they can grab foil-packed junk food snacks from guests caught unawares, and rare butterflies. It is also the jump-off point to the Bilar Peak where one can endlessly shoot with cameras and binoculars a variety of birds, flying lemurs and other flora and fauna.

Plans are afoot to build a canopy walk to take nature watching to the next plane – up close.

The Provincial Engineer’s Office under Engr. Edwin Vallejos implemented the project costing P5.12 million, undertaken by Maghuyop Construction.

From the inaugural site near the Riverside Elementary School , Cadeliña and Galbreath led the team along the Logarita circumferential road for Aumentado’s inspection. The governor said he will include this road – it being a provincial road leading to a tourist destination – among those for priority soil stabilization next year.

Aumentado, who is also into his third and last term as governor, lamented that the “soil stab” technology became available only in the last three years or so. Had it been available during his first term, he would have stabilized more of the road base of the over 930 kilometers of provincial roads.

“Soil stab” now readies the road base for concrete- or asphalt paving.

The group proceeded to the Bilar Skills Training Center at the Municipal Hall Complex for the turnover program where Cadeliña thanked Aumentado for the project – along with its Phase 1 worth some P4.6 million.


ROAD TO TOURISM DESTINATIONS. Gov. Erico Aumentado (4th from left) cuts the ceremonial ribbon to inaugurate the newly-concreted 878.6 lineal meter stretch of the Magsaysay Park and Logarita Spring Road . He is assisted by, from left, Assistant Provincial Engr. Greta Mende, Riverside Barangay Captain Channel Luzano, Vice Mayor Norman Palacio, Mayor Fanuel Cadeliña, Provincial Board Member Ester Corazon Jamisola-Galbreath, Municipal Councilor Ramoncita Cabusao, Provincial Engineer Edwin Vallejos and Rev. Fr. Gilbert Ilogon, parish priest. Foto: RAYMUND BUSLON