BALANGA CITY, Bataan – The three big infrastructure projects being undertaken by the city government here will further propel the tourism industry here to unparalleled growth.

City Mayor Joet S. Garcia said the three ongoing projects – the Balanga Wetland Center, Plaza Mayor de Balanga, and a modern market complex – are now being fast tracked for the benefit of the city residents.

He said the P8 million Balanga Wetland Center in Barangay Tortugas, the first of its kind in the entire Manila Bay area, will be significant in enticing more local and foreign bird-watchers in the Balanga wetlands and mudflats.

The wetland center will have a viewing deck as well as state-of-the-art equipment to provide utmost comfort to visiting bird enthusiasts, the mayor said.

Based on the survey of the Wild Birds Club of the Philippines (WBCP), the wetlands of Balanga attract one of the largest concentrations of migrant shore birds and waterfowls anywhere in the country, hosting the most number of wintering water birds escaping the harsh winter climate in neighboring countries like China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

According to the WBCP, around 72 species of migrant birds are found in the grassland and wetlands in the three bird watching villages of Tortugas, Puerto Rivas and Sibacan in this city.

Balanga has a record of 15,521 migratory birds in a single sighting, said the club.

Garcia pointed out that the Balanga city plaza is now being renovated to become more attractive, being the city’s center which was patterned after world-class plazas in Europe. It will be called Plaza Mayor de Balanga.

The three big major infrastructure projects are also being supported by Bataan Gov. Tet Garcia and his eldest son, Bataan Rep. Abet S. Garcia, who had actually started to introduce various economic reforms during his stint as mayor of this city for six years.