By Leonard T. Pineda
Published on http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017073 on January 16, 2019

COO Paragas turnovers Sunburst Park Project to Mayor Espinosa III

ILOILO CITY, Jan. 16 (PIA) — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) recently turned over the historic Sunburst Park to the Iloilo City government for operation and maintenance.

TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas said the agency has undertaken the development of Sunburst Park as part of its mandate to develop, manage, and supervise tourism infrastructure projects all over the country pursuant to the Tourism Act of 2009 or Republic Act No. 9593.

“We hope that this will help boost tourism activities and consequently contribute to the economic growth of Iloilo City,” he said.

He said the development of the park is a project initiated by Senator Franklin Drilon and the city government here led by Mayor Jose S. Espinosa III.

The project development cost amounted to P19,467,329.55, according to a project brief from TIEZA.

TIEZA undertook the development of the project and completed construction on December 14, 2018.

The revival of Sunburst Park is in line with the development of the Central Business District or “downtown Iloilo” as a Heritage Zone as per the declaration of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

The park is a place for recreation open to the public and it includes a walkway, a chess playground, park benches, parking area, the existing Peralta Statue, and the Sunburst area.