DAVAO CITY, July 8 (PIA) - The once derelict Magsaysay Park amphitheater is being renovated under a P5-million grant coming from the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Among the enhancement is the installation of the stage roofing. This will enable performances to be held in the amphitheater which is located in a corner of the three-hectare park adjacent to Sta Ana Port.

According to NCCA Executive Director Al Ryan Alejandre, they are targeting the project to be completed by August.

The month of August during pre-pandemic is associated with Kadayawan Festival, where various Indigenous Peoples in Davao City will gather at the park to stage some performances.

“Basically it will be a hub for culture and peace in Mindanao. Our different indigenous communities they can use that, our IPs if they have some activities or if they have some presentations or program it can be used as a venue,” Alejandre said.

He said the Magsaysay Park amphitheater can complement the planned Arts and Culture hub being proposed to be put up in Mintal which is a project of the Department of Tourism and supported by the NCCA.

Alejandre said the enhanced amphitheater will enrich the existing Kadayawan cultural village put by the City Government. “The amphitheater and the Kadayawan village can really make Magsaysay Park as a cultural village,” he said.

He said this is considered by the NCCA as a cultural amphitheater the first in Davao City. The project was proposed by Davao City in 2019 however it was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. (PIA/RG Alama)