Cagayan de Oro is moving to fast-track a planned public skatepark and two city boulevards, with officials aiming to make major progress on the projects before the end of the year.
City officials and council committee members approved a motion to speed up the projects’ technical review, documentation and bidding process.
The proposed 800- to 1,000-square-meter skatepark, with a P6-million budget, is expected to be among the first projects to move into construction.
Project proponents will submit their Program of Works (POW) to the City Engineering Office to help speed up reviews and funding approvals.
Patrick U. Gabutina, project manager of Hapsay Sapa and Project Lunhaw, said the two boulevards are targeted for completion by late September, while the skatepark is expected to lead the initial construction phase.
“We plan to implement all of these things before the end of the year,” Gabutina said.
Skatepark to boost local sports
The proposed skatepark could give Cagayan de Oro’s skateboarders and BMX riders a dedicated space to train and compete instead of relying on streets and other informal areas.
The project comes as the city works on broader urban and environmental initiatives, including land development and partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme on circular economy and methane-management efforts.
Officials stress safeguards
While supporting faster implementation, council members said the projects must still undergo the required legal, technical and environmental checks.
Councilor Yvy Beja Emano said urgency should not mean bypassing established procedures.
“There is a process for all these things,” Emano said.
She called for clearances from the City Planning Office, the Comprehensive Land Use Plan committee and the City Legal Office before bidding and construction.
Site inspections next
With the motion approved, council members, youth development officers and city engineers will conduct joint site inspections in the coming weeks.
The inspections will assess site conditions, support technical reviews and help finalize the project plans before bidding and construction.
Council Committee on Sports Chair Kenneth John D. Sacala confirmed the motion’s approval, signaling the city’s push to move the projects forward while keeping required safeguards in place.
