Power Firm to Develop Nature Park in Davao City

Aboitiz Power is developing a sprawling property in Davao City as a nature park which will serve as a biodiversity classroom

Located in the coastal barangay of Punta Dumalag, the eight-hectare seaside property was once the site of a vacation house for executives of the Davao Light Power Company (an Aboitiz company) and also served as a training area for its linemen.

Within its vicinity is the 37-hectare Marine Protected Area established by the City Government in 2007. The area is also known as the Pawikan Sanctuary as it was the nesting ground of sea turtles. The nesting site is located in the only white-sand beach in Davao City.

According to Willy Rodolfo, Corporate Communications Manager of Aboitiz Power, the company decided to turn the property into a nature park where people will be educated about biodiversity.

Rodolfo said that the current feature of the site which is now named as Cleanergy Park will be preserved and in fact more trees particularly mangroves will be planted in the area.

Last November the whole employees of the Aboitiz Group in Mindanao flocked to the site to plant 2,000 trees to jumpstart the Cleanergy Park project. Rodolfo said that aside from 2,000 fruit and forest trees about 2,000 mangroves will be planted in the area. The trees will be geotagged and information about these trees will be posted inside the park forming an integral part of their eco-trail.

Among the plans include a gazebo which will serve as a welcome area and a classroom, an eco-trail, a weather station which aims to provide location-specific weather information and a lighthouse in partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard.

In its development timeline for 2014 plans are up for a scientific baseline research of the area, geo-tagging of trees, the establishment of an organic farm, infrastructure improvements such as guard house, boardwalk and rest stations and view decks.

By 2015 a turtle habitat conservation program will commence, the fish sanctuary project with giant reefs and giant clams seeding will be started and the setting up of a weather satellite station will also be part of the plans.

The park is also envisioned as a renewable energy area as solar and wind power will be used in lighting up the area.

With the place a popular location for photography enthusiasts, the place is still open to photographers. He added that the park will be open for the public to enjoy the unique biodiversity of the area with its mangroves and beach forests, park benches will be put up within its eco-trails.

If completed and opened, the Cleanergy Park will be the largest park in Davao City. (PIA/RG Alama)