Barring all hitches, the famed Abong-Abong Park in Pasonanca may once again be open to the public, especially the Catholic faithful and pilgrims, during the observance of Holy Week in the second week of April.

Speaking on behalf of Mayor Beng Climaco, Atty. Keneth Beldua told the virtual presser Monday that plans are afoot to open Abong-Abong for the traditional religious activities during Holy Week.

He said the City Disaster Risk Reduction and management Office (CDRRMO) and Local Covid-19 Task Force Chief Implementer Dr. Elmeir Apolinario was already studying the possibility of opening Abong-Abong this Holy Week, especially now that Zamboanga City is under Alert Level 1, the lowest Covid-19 quarantine restrictions.

However, Atty. Beldua stressed that if and when the plan will push through, the usual minimum public health standards, such as physical distancing and wearing of facemasks, will be strictly implemented at the park.

He said the outdoor capacity requirement will be applied to people who will be doing the “Way of the Cross” penitential prayers along the hillside road leading to the Cruz Mayor.

“We have to study the crown limit of the road to maintain the physical distance,” he added. To recall, Abong-Abong Park has for years been the city’s main Holy Week retreat paradise, where thousands of Catholic faithful would converge for vigil night prayers on Maundy Thursday and Holy Friday.

However, the park was closed up until today due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.-(Vic Larato)