Modern zoo may soon rise in Baguio

February 14, 2021 Headlines

BAGUIO CITY – The City of Baguio may soon have another attraction in the form of a proposed modern zoo that could help perk up the city’s tourism industry.
The city government through the city council is currently reviewing the proposal of Avilon Wildlife Conservation Foundation (AWCF) which submitted an unsolicited pitch in 2019 for the establishment of a zoo within the Botanical Garden.
AWCF President Joacquin Gaw in an interview last week said they are hoping to get a favorable review from city officials who are expected to decide on the proposed project this week. Just recently, Gaw said that they meet with the local officials lead by Vice-Mayor Faustino Olowan and other city councilors as they presented their zoo park proposal. Gaw said the proposed modern zoo will be situated in a 3.5-hectare portion of the Botanical Garden.
If approved, the zoo would form part of the revival being undergone by the 11-hectare Botanical Garden.
The AWCF will invest P360 million for the construction of the proposed wildlife facility, which would be enclosed and will have facilities that would ensure the animals could freely roam the area. Gaw said the AWCF, which is also the operator of the Avilon Zoo in Rizal and another zoo in Pasig, also plans to build an exclusive hospital to ensure the animals are cared for, closely monitored and conserved. It will also have a sewerage treatment plant and a multilevel parking facility for the visitors.
He said the zoo will house varieties of animals that are suitable and can adapt with the temperature and climate of the city.
As this developed, Ed Beltran, AWCF Consultant explained that “We will make sure na talagang maaalagaan nang mabuti ang mga hayop. This is our assurance to the city officials of Baguio and the environmentalists concerned about animal welfare”.
They plan to restrict entry to the zoo by requiring visitors to pre-book their visit. Beltran said that aside from helping boost the city’ tourism, the proposed zoo will be ideal for the educational requirements of students who usually will have to go to Metro Manila or Vigan City in Ilocos Sur for their field trips.
He added that “Rather than go far, Baguio City could have its own zoo, being an educational and tourist center”. Proposed as a public-private partnership project, the zoo will be built at no cost to the city government this would be mean an added income source for the city through taxes and rentals for the use of the eyed portion at Botanical Garden.
He said they are also willing to maintain not only the zoo premises but also the entire 11-hectare area of the park free of charge. He added they have considered the traffic build up in the Teacher’s Camp area towards Botanical Garden, but this will be addressed since the entrance to the zoo will be from South Drive