A world-class skate park built at a total cost of PHP39.2 million in Baler, Aurora is now open to the public. Located in Barangay Calabuanan, the Baler Skate Park was inaugurated Wednesday in rites graced by local officials, skating champions and skating enthusiasts. ‘This is a dream come true for skaters in Baler. This skate park will provide a safe and accessible place for our skaters to practice and compete,’ Baler Mayor Rhett Angara said in a statement on Thursday. Designed by Architect Lornel Bihasa, a member of the Taga Baler Skateboarding Community Inc. (TBSCi), the skate park’s layout was intended to offer increased skate space for athletes. The world-class sports facility spanning 6,155 square meters has an administration building, a 1,730-square-meter parking area for 34 vehicles and two designated parking slots for individuals with disabilities. It also has a 350-capacity grandstand, a common leisure park and a 75 kilovolt-amperes (kVa) generator set for a stable power supply. Eight closed-circuit television (CCTV) units will also be installed to ensure the security of skateboarders and visitors. The construction of the skate park started in June 2022 with funds sourced by Aurora Rep. Rommel Angara and Senator Sonny Angara. The project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Aurora District Engineering Office. Angara said the skate park is a testament to the government’s commitment to providing world-class sports facilities for athletes. ‘Mapapakinabangan ito ng ating mga kabataan at malaking tulong sa ating turismo (This is beneficial to our youth and it is a big help to our tourism),’ the lawmaker said. Skateboarders are thrilled and impressed with the newly-completed skate park. ‘This is one of the best skate parks in the Philippines. It is a state-of-the-art facility that will help our skaters reach their full potential,’ said Skate Pilipinas president Carl Sambrano, who also graced the event. He was joined by Team Pilipinas’ Margielyn Didal from Cebu, the gold medalist in the Women’s Skate Division at the Asian Games 2018 and South East Asian (SEA) Games 2019, as well as Mark Renzo Feliciano from Baler, the silver medalist in the Men’s Skate Division at SEA Games 2019. ‘The Baler Skate Park is the best of its kind in the Philippines. My first competition here was in 2016, and I joined the men’s division that time and won the best trick and second place,’ Didal said. TBSCi president Angelo Torres said skating started in Baler in the year 2000, pioneered by Roderick Andal, Johenes Angara, Neil Rojo, Edsel Bernardino and Ricomar Porqueriño.
Source: Philippines News Agency
