Who
has not heard of Tagaytay City’s People’s Park
in the Sky? What was once envisioned to be the vacation
house of the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ family had
been turned into a popular tourist spot, which, at present,
is estimated to have brought in approximately 2 million
tourists. However, the rehabilitation of the place had not
been easy. Construction of the grand palace, said to have
a budget of US$10 million, had been stopped when opposition
senator Benigno Aquino was assassinated in 1983. The triumph
of the EDSA Revolution also relinquished the dream of ever
completing the project. The palace was abandoned and declared
structurally risky. Shanties appeared along the highway
leading to the spot. Over time, the area looked much like
a wasteland.
In
1994, then-President Fidel V. Ramos instructed the DOT secretary
to rehabilitate the “palace”. Two years after,
the plan still had not moved. This was when the local government
of Tagaytay City stepped in. With the directive to turn
the palace into a people’s park to be enjoyed by the
poor and ordinary tourists, officials of the city government
immediately sprung to action.
The
take-over of the LGU produced significant results in a span
of three months. Squatters were relocated and traffic and
waste management systems were established and implemented.
Weeds were cleared, existing structures were cleaned and
dilapidated buildings were demolished. To improve accessibility,
roads with asphalt overlay were constructed. Quadrails and
streetlights along the road were also installed.
The
park included such facilities as souvenir stalls, fishpond,
wishing well, lover’s lane, amphitheater, centennial
hall, a museum, grotto, and fruit stalls. It also has a
360-degree viewing deck overlooking the whole of Tagaytay
and the neighboring provinces. Income opportunities flourished
among local vendors who sold food and souvenir items in
the park. At the same time, it provided income for the city.
Net revenues from the operation of the park were at Php2.9
million in 1996, and 1999 figures were estimated at P5.6
million.
The
park is managed by the local government of Tagaytay City
with the Tourism Office at the helm of operations. People’s
Park in the Sky is open from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm daily.
