Botanical Garden, Forbes Park River rehabilitation project on

As part of the environment rejuvenation program, a 75-meter creek along Forbes Park, Botanical Garden is undergoing recovery and rehabilitation with inset plans of a mini-waterfalls and pond having naturally occurring flora and fauna.

Also presently undergoing construction are a two-level walkway to provide locals and visitors a view to the creek’s denizens, and the park’s environs.

The lower walkways at both sides of the river are designed to allow a couple at a time to pass through. A middle pathway may also be constructed, City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) Forester Floro Bastian said.

The elevated walkway offers a view of the 800-meter Botanical Park, Teachers camp and the surrounding areas.      

This is part of the rejuvenated waterways program, of Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s restored environment and ecosystem agenda.

This also provides a glimpse into the “back to the wildlife,” vision of CEPMOffice (CEPMO) head Atty. Rhenan Diwas, as observed through educational travels overseas.

The riverbed which was concretized a few years back shall be recovered to allow water to seep through and undergo natural filtration to complete the water cycle.

Though the river may now be considered as man-made, the restoration process would have boulders, river stones, plants and organisms which may re-create an almost natural river ecosystem.  

Said environment possesses a self-cleansing property and is considered a factor in alleviating water pollution in an urban setting. –  JGFianza