Public Works Secretary Mark Villar expressed his satisfaction to the ongoing construction of the 1.2-kilometer Tondaligan Baywalk in Dagupan City, a joint project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).
“I’m very impressed,” Villar said when he inspected the project before noon of January 18 along with Pangasinan Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia, who initiated the project, and Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim.
Villar came from Urdaneta City where he inspected and inaugurated the newly-built Urdaneta Bypass Road leading to either Dagupan City and Binalonan.
The baywalk project, which is now being given a concrete stamping surface to make it more attractive, is being constructed under the auspices of the DPWH through Highways District Engineer Edita Manuel.
Villar revealed that the pedestrian infrastructure project is one of the things being promoted by the national government in the countryside, and the Tondaligan Baywalk is one concrete example.
“It has a beautiful design and there are ornamental plants that would soon be planted including a bike lane that will be provided,” Villar said, adding that barriers are also part of the plan.
Noting the concrete stamping barriers being put on the surface of the structure, Villar took pride in saying that when one walks over to the place, he would likely feel as if he is in another country.
“This is a big thing for the people of Dagupan City,” Villar said, as he assured Congressman De Venecia that he is now working for the funding of the second phase of the project.
De Venecia initiated the construction of the Baywalk to provide additional amenities in Dagupan’s biggest park by the Lingayen Gulf where people can do their morning and afternoon jogging, walking and biking to keep them fit.
De Venecia said already constructed is 1.2 kilometer by three meters of the baywalk, which will soon be extended up to Barangay Bonuan Binloc and to Barangay Bolasi in adjacent San Fabian.
He said the plant boxes where bougainvillas and other ornamentals will soon be planted will lend more beauty to the baywalk and the Tondaligan Park itself.