Before the turnover of the equipment, the Tan Holdings managers conducted a cleanup at the park, an activity which they regularly do every month.
“Protecting the environment, keeping the island clean has been something that is very important to Tan Holdings,” its president Jerry Tan said during a brief ceremony attended by Agriculture Director Manny Pangelinan, Parks and Recreation Director Tony Benavente, Saipan mayor’s officer officer-in-charge Vinycia Seman, Covenant Saipan Reps. Raymond D. Palacios and Ralph S. Demapan.
The playground equipment is phase II of the park beautification program, Tan said, adding they have already repaired and improved the performing stage.
There was a project to put up a lighting system but all the copper wires were stolen when the project was almost 80 percent complete, he added.
“We will continue to do our best to help keep this beautiful beach park,” Tan said as he also thanked PSS Teen Talk and Tweens Talk Too adviser Sharleen Crisostimo and her group for helping the cleanup drive.
Pangelinan said the assistance of private companies make a big difference in maintaining public parks.
He announced the Department of Land and Natural Resources is now working on a grant application for $50,000 in annual park maintenance funds.
According to Palacios, “I’m proud to say almost all of the beach parks in Precinct 2 are well-maintained.”
Demapan said the continued partnership between the private sector and the government in making sure that public parks are well maintained should be pursued.
Benavente, for his part, encouraged other companies to also adopt public parks and help maintain and beautify them.
“We can’t do so much repair because the budget is really going down,” he added.
