Cebu Metropolis plans to revive the outdated zoo in Barangay Kalunasan as a wildlife conservation and schooling middle.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A multi-million peso undertaking is ready for revival because the Cebu Metropolis authorities pushes ahead with an estimated P300-million plan to rework the Cebu Metropolis Zoo into a contemporary wildlife conservation and safety middle.
The seven-hectare facility in Barangay Kalunasan, initially rebranded because the Cebu Metropolis Eco-Park in 2023 beneath then-Mayor Michael Rama, was left idle following its ceremonial groundbreaking.
Now, beneath Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s administration, the undertaking has been given a five-year growth timeline with renewed funding and private-sector partnerships.
The town authorities envisions the Cebu Metropolis Wildlife Conservation and Safety Middle as a sanctuary for rescued animals and an academic hub.
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Lawyer Gerry Carillo, vice chairperson of the Eco-Park Administration, mentioned in a press convention on February 19, 2025, that the power would home animals rescued from the unlawful wildlife commerce whereas additionally serving as a brand new tourism and recreation website.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the primary time grand plans have been laid out for the location, solely to be stalled. In 2016, the zoo was closed by former Mayor Tomas Osmeña, with its almost 300 animals transferred to Negros Oriental, amid plans for a land alternate take care of the Province.
The world was left deserted till the Rama administration initiated plans to redevelop it right into a wildlife useful resource middle with a P5-million finances.
Following one other ceremonial groundbreaking in October 2023, no precise development befell as a consequence of budgetary constraints, Carillo admitted.
“Kutob ra man didto ang groundbreaking, wa nay exercise,” Carillo mentioned.
(The groundbreaking was simply that, there is no such thing as a extra exercise.)
Now, Garcia’s administration goals to interrupt this cycle of delays by securing P52 million for habitat development as a part of the proposed Supplemental Finances. A further P20 million is allotted to accumulate animals from licensed breeders and switch rescued wildlife.
Carillo mentioned that partnerships with personal firms akin to Waterfront Cebu Metropolis Lodge and On line casino, the Junior Chamber Worldwide, and different organizations could be essential in making certain the undertaking’s completion.
He cited town’s gradual procurement course of as a major motive for looking for personal investments to forestall additional delays.
The revised plan contains an administrative constructing, a multi-story parking complicated, a rooftop backyard, business areas, an amphitheater, a crocodile park, a solar-powered waterfall, a 4,000-square-meter chicken sanctuary, an aviary, and viewing decks for lion and tiger enclosures.
The town can be coordinating with the Division of Setting and Pure Sources (DENR) to switch wildlife to the location, however correct habitats should first be constructed earlier than any relocation can proceed.
To generate curiosity and reintroduce the location to the general public, town is internet hosting the first-ever “Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia Eco Bike and Run Problem” on March 15-16, 2025.
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