The delayed construction of the Bohol Friendship Park will start before the year ends, said Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap.

According to Yap, the city bids and awards committee will bid out on October 6, 2016, the P15-million first phase of the project.

Yap said that the project was temporarily held up due to delays in completing paperwork and documents.

Previous reports indicate that bidding for the construction of the park was stalled after the city treasurer refused to certify that funds are available for the project unless the promised initial funding of P58 million will be remitted to the City Treasurer’s Office.

The project will be built at the current Sandugo Shrine in Barangay Bool in the city.

It will have an amphitheater, an audio visual room, a life-size bronze monument of the Blood Compact, a mini botanical park, stilt-supported structures along the mangroves that will house souvenir and coffee shops.

The final phase of the project is the construction of a replica of the galleon of Legazpi with a restaurant and a mini library.

Started by the late Bohol Chronicle editor-publisher Atty. Zoilo “Jun” Dejaresco as project chair during the administration of City Mayor Jose Torralba, the original design was done by Architect Eufrasio Araneta and was the basis for the final design by Architect Nino Guidaben. (Willie Maestrado)

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