ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/30 June) – After the dancing fountain, the city government is set to establish a marine park at the Paseo del Mar, this city’s newest number one attraction.
Mayor Celso Lobregat said the marine park will be built with the support of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST), the only school in Western Mindanao that offers courses related to marine studies.
Lobregat said the marine park will feature variety of fish species that are currently being grown at the aquaculture laboratory of ZSCMST.
The project is expected to give residents and visitors the chance to see up close several species of fish, turtles and other forms of marine life, he said.
He said the marine park will be an added attraction at the Paseo del Mar, which has been teeming with people since its opening two years ago.
The city government opened last March 23 the musically gyrating dancing fountain at the Paseo del Mar, which is located just next to the oldest hotel in the city, Lantaka Hotel by the Sea, and the historic Forth Pilar Shrine.
Hordes of people flock to the Paseo del Mar at night time to dine and unwind with families and friends. The park hosts several food establishments.
Lobregat said the marine park project is underway and will be a collaborative effort of the city government, ZSCMST, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the City Agriculture Office.
Another project, a multi-purpose building, is undergoing construction at the Paseo del Mar, which is a former urban poor colony.
The multi-purpose building houses a fully-equipped theatre-type hall, conference room to include an area for fine dining for concessionaires and a huge assembly hall intended to host exhibits, trade fairs and gatherings. (MindaNews)