Plan for village park junked

Governor Pedro P. Tenorio on Friday rejected a proposed measure that seeks to designate a 27-hectare public land for the Kagman Arboretum and Community Park.

In his transmittal letter, Mr. Tenorio cited financial and legal impediments of converting the planned use of the area as reasons behind his disapproval of House Local Bill 12-25.

“It has been made very clear that the parcel of land identified in this bill for public park has been undergoing development with local and federal funds as part of an existing publicly approved plan for agricultural activities, including the Kagman Watershed Project,” he said.

Mr. Tenorio vetoed the proposed measure amid 300 signatures gathered by the Kagman Youth Association to lobby for the signing into law of HLB 12-25.

The governor explained that the proposed area has a soil and water conservation area, an endangered species mitigation site along with a fully functional nature trail and arboretum, as well as four acres of mitigated wetland.

“The KWP will have an infrastructure area of approximately 14 hectares of flood control channels, basins, woodland and educational areas when completed,” Mr. Tenorio pointed out.

He added that an a park similar to the one proposed by HLB 12-25 has already been established. Called the Education Island Nature Trail and Arboretum is open to the public for educational purposes. The area consists of nature trail, foot bridges, and bird-watching blind overlooking a wetland.

According to the governor, he has been assured by the Department of Lands and Natural Resources that modifications could be made to accommodate the Kagman park in public land parcel 018-G-03.

“This would be a more cooperative effort which would accommodate the residents and not jeopardize any projected federal and local funds for the Kagman Watershed Project, which is beneficial to the whole community,” he said.

Kagman youth leaders have circulated petitions in an effort to persuade Mr. Tenorio to sign HLB 12-25 into law.

The 27-hectare site is directly adjacent to three CUC water wells that pump water to Capitol Hill and San Vicente. Water pumped directly from Kagman underground aquifer is potable and does not require any treatment.

The community park concept was developed in response to the request made by the youth of Kagman for the development of recreational facilities in the community and to better target public land use to provide the maximum benefit for the residents of Kagman rather than a few individuals.