Taking back what once was An Ode to a Deep Sense of Camaraderie

By ZAIJAN LOUISE MONILLA and SOPHIA PAULA PAJE

WHEN FILIPINOS HEAR the word “Greenbelt,” they usually think of the idyllic park in Makati.

But Ligao has its own version — a namesake of this famous landmark. Sitting at the heart of the city, the Greenbelt Park is one of the many tourist attractions located in the city this time.

Thanks to its simple but well-planned design, this picturesque urban plaza is the best spot to relax and enjoy your favorite meal or beverage. Its lush green foliage gives it an aesthetic feel ideal for socializing with friends.

Park-goers can also enjoy peace and solitude under the shade of the historical trees that surround the park. In the middle of Greenbelt, you can find a white fountain with a perfect, natural glow when the sun touches its marble-like stone.

Greenbelt Park also has both natural and artificial light, making it an excellent background for all your Instagram-worthy photos. Indeed, it has the perfect ambiance for your first date and other precious memories with your loved ones.

With its numerous events and activities since it reopened, it has once again attracted Ligaoeños from all walks of life. A couple of recent ones are Ligao Got Talent which showcases the many talents of Ligaoenos and the free concerts featuring Silent Sanctuary, Dwta, and other local performers where the community came together for good music. These recently held events are part of a line-up of activities in celebration of Ligao’s 22nd Cityhood Anniversary which ran late March this year.

One student even said that their family travels all the way from Polangui for Greenbelt’s live music and food park. But these aren’t the only things that Greenbelt Park has to offer.

Ultimately, the said festivity is about building com- munity ties. This is why several BRSHS students believe that Greenbelt has certainly made a positive impact not just to Ligaoeños, but to people in neighboring communities as well.

However, as much as students already enjoy the perks of having the park near campus, they still think it can be improved to attract more park-goers and tourists.

A few suggested that it should have more lighting, seating, and affordable food stalls. Some students also proposed that the LGU should invest a better stage and proper solid waste management.

Public spaces define a city by creating a sense of belonging and promoting people’s mental health and well-being.

It is the local leaders’ role to create better public spaces for all. In the case of Greenbelt park, it is a testament to Ligaoeños’ resilience after the pandemic.

More than just a place where we gather for food and music, it’s a reflection of our tight-knit community where businesses help each other succeed, and people come together for respite from the hardships of their daily life. ■ them. It is invalid contrariwise.

For our students, these projects are causes of their tardiness, limitation of mobility, and distraction due to construction noise.

“Road expansion affects everyone around the sites. The ground shifts as a result of road widening, making the soil unstable and prone to soil displacement, which may lead to serious accidents and injuries,” student Elyssa Joy Loma commented.

A handful of them experienced negative health effects due to the expansion while the rest fortunately didn’t suffer from it.

Similar results occurred if they noticed any changes in the value of their property ever since the said event took place.

“I feel quite upset about it, since people’s houses are getting destroyed, just to create some extra space for some cars. If the road widening is essential, then the families affected by it must be compensated for all the damages caused by the road widening,” another student Zabdiel Datoon emphasized.

Addressing this issue isn’t easy and careful consideration must be taken in order to mitigate it properly. The minimization of acquiring land from neighboring properties can lessen the impact on nearby communities and ecosystems.

Decades-old trees shouldn’t be a hindrance to road widening constructions because incorporating this to the design of the widened road can help preserve green spaces and trees, reducing the heat island effect and improve air quality in our surroundings. Prioritizing and managing construction impacts by minimizing noise, dust, and traffic disruptions is also important to ensure that local communities are kept informed about the construction schedule and any road closures.

It is essential for policymakers and planners to conduct thorough analysis and further engage with the public to determine whether road widening is necessary and appropriate for a given location. While it can enhance traffic flow and safety, it may also lead to obstructive environmental and community impacts. By balancing the needs of transportation and the needs of the community, it is possible to establish transportation systems that are efficient, safe, and sustainable. ■