Burnham Lake closed for rehabilitation starting October 1

BAGUIO CITY — The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), in partnership with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), announced the closure of Burnham Lake starting October 1, 2025, for rehabilitation and enhancement.

The move marks the first-ever total closure of the iconic lake since its construction in 1904.

The rehabilitation is part of the Burnham Park Master Plan, which aims to improve the park’s overall condition through a four-phase development project.

According to CEPMO Engineer II Jaquilyn Tino, the first phase will focus on improving the lake’s water quality and surrounding areas, including the construction of a retaining wall, a new docking area for boats, and an additional seating or viewing area.

“Actually, the [retaining wall] will exceed towards the lake, reducing the existing width of the lake, perhaps five meters, because from the retaining wall to the sidewalk, that is where we will be doing the seating area,” Tino explained.

TIEZA will fund the project, allotting ₱100 million for the first phase and another ₱100 million for the succeeding three phases.

Phase two will cover sidewalk renovations, phase three will focus on the children’s park, and the fourth phase will rehabilitate the skating rink.

CEPMO said proposals for these remaining phases are still being finalized for bidding next year.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier formed a technical group to draft the development design, which TIEZA reviewed and approved in 2019.

CEPMO stated that phase one is expected to be completed within 180 days, or by April 2026.

During this time, the lake will remain fully closed to the public.

“There is no plan for partial opening as we will need to drain the water and fill it up again,” Tino said, assuring the public that no trees will be cut during the rehabilitation.

CEPMO also confirmed that boat concessionaires have agreed to the closure, recognizing the need for lake improvement and faster completion of the project.

The public is advised to avoid the area during the rehabilitation period for safety and to allow uninterrupted project implementation.