Role
of Open Spaces
With the passage of RA 7160,
the promotion of sports and recreation has
become a primary concern of Local Government
Units. The latter is required to provide a
public park including freedom parks, cultural
centers, multi-purpose hall, multi-purpose
pavement, plaza and sports center, playground
and other sports facilities.
Even before the enactment
of the Local Government Code, the Municipal
Government of Bani already recognized the
significance of open spaces in enhancing the
quality of “built” environment
and in providing the residents a place for
recreation or for simple leisurely walk. Thus,
a municipal plaza was constructed, improved,
maintained and preserved for years.
Sports Facilities
The Municipal Government of
Bani had constructed neighborhood public plaza
with basketball court to all the twenty-seven
(27) barangays with a land area of 1,000 square
meters each or a total of 2.7 hectares. Of
these playgrounds, eight (8) are covered and
are found in Barangays Poblacion, Banog Norte,
Ranom Iloco, San Miguel, San Jose, Tiep, Centro
Toma and Calayo.
A Municipal Auditorium is
also established and situated about ten (10)
meters going east from the municipal hall.
It is where group assemblies, sports competitions
and other festivities are held. A children’s
playground / park is also built within the
auditorium compound.
The people of Bani are very
much inclined to sports, that an annual Inter
Barangay Sports Tournament is done during
summer vacation. The tournament is usually
sponsored by the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation.
Likewise, barangay fiestas are made more colorful
and exciting with basketball and volleyball
games. Sports is also a part of extra-curricular
activities in schools inclusive of intramurals,
unit meets, provincial meets, IRAA, and the
like.
The favorite sports in the
locality are basketball, volleyball, baseball
and softball with facilities therefor found
in schools, table tennis and chess.
Aside from sports tournaments, residents are
also fond of recreational activities, such
as swimming, playing billiards, card games,
watching television and movies through CD
or VCD player.
For those who can afford commercial recreational
facilities, they can avail these at Crispina
Mountain Resort in Poblacion, which is equipped
with swimming pools, cottages and other amenities.
Beach resorts cottages could also be availed
in Barangay Surip where one can enjoy viewing
its natural beauty and relaxing his mind and
body as he scents the sea breezes.
A Cockfighting Coliseum is also found in Bani
of 3,000 square meters, specifically located
in Barangay Arwas. The cockfighting coliseum
operates during Sundays and also weekdays
if “derbies” are initiated by
a promoter.
Park Requirements
Per DECS standard, a Municipal Park, is required
to be in the center of the urban district
and should have a minimum area of 500 square
meters per 1,000 population with a walking
distance of 100 to 150 meters. Suggested facilities
are landscaped areas, parking lots and similar
amenities.
On the other hand, playfields or athletic
fields are advisable for active/organized
sports for youth and adult family groups.
Ideal location would be those open areas adjacent
to high schools and accessible to public transportation.
If possible, these playfields should be 0.5
to 1 kilometer away from residential areas.
With a projected population of 56,006 by year
2011, required under the national standard
for a municipal park would be 28,003 square
meters or 2.8 hectares. Considering that the
municipal government has already established
a total of 2.7 hectares of neighborhood public
plaza and the auditorium with an area of 1.64
hectares, no additional area for sports and
recreation is needed.
At present, the Municipal
Auditorium offers different sports and children’s
playground facilities, however, it needs to
be further improved to attract not only the
residents but also those from other places.
The area needs to be landscaped and planted
with more flowering and ornamental plants.
Comfort rooms are also necessary to be provided
within the vicinity.
Likewise, the stalls operating
within the premises of the auditorium that
destroy its beauty have to be relocated.
Some of the basketball courts
established in Barangays are only temporary
in structure. Hence, these should be made
permanent by cementing them and providing
steel basketball rings and stands.
Passive sports facilities like chess, table
tennis, rockets, bats and nets should also
be provided to each barangay.
The youth, the civic groups, senior citizens,
employees and all the others should be all
involved in physical fitness programs to make
than more productive and healthy.
