The Manila city government released perspectives on what the Lagusnilad underpass will look like after the renovation is completed.
Manila Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) Chief Armand Andres shared the new look of the famed underpass in a Facebook live broadcast on August 12.
Vertical gardens and signages will be placed at the entry and exit points of the Lagusnilad underpass that connects Intramuros to Manila City Hall.
Murals depicting significant events in Philippine history will adorn the walls of the underpass.
A Manila Interactive Info Desk, that will give the public information about the city, will be installed.
Books from Underground, the iconic local bookstore and the only business that was allowed to retain its spot at the Lagusnilad underpass, will now have better shelves to display its books.
Architect Ali Bahoy of DEPW said the modern look of the underpass is inspired by the Philippine capital's history.
"The design concept for this is the history of Manila. Namely, the Manila City Hall and the history of Intramuros, to be precise," Bahoy said in a statement.
The Manila city government partnered with University of Santo Tomas (UST) College of Architecture alumni and faculty Arch. Juanito Malaga, John Benedict Fallorina, Sean Patrick Ortiz, Leon Centeno Tuazon; the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Gerilya Artist Collective; and Raven Rivota.
In November 2019, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso led the clean-up and rehabilitation of the said underpass resulting in the displacement of a number of vendors.
Construction works for the Lagusnilad underpass stalled after Metro Manila was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Andres said that after the Lagusnilad underpass rehabilitation is completed, the city government will proceed to renovate the Lawton underpass which connects Intramuros to Lawton Avenue.
Other projects
Andres said they are also working on the installation of a fountain at Anda Circle, a roundabout at the boundary of Intramuros and Port Area.
He said they will also place "moving" solar studs around Anda Circle, that will not only help provide ample lighting at one of the city's major thoroughfares, but will also elevate it into one of the attractions in Manila.
Andres said this project will be launched in a few weeks.
Vertical gardens will soon brighten up areas, including schools in the country's capital in line with the Manila mayor's vision to create more green spaces in the city.
The vertical wall garden in Lawton Avenue is expected to be inaugurated in December this year.
The DEPW is also retrofitting a number of center islands in the city to transform them into vertical gardens.
"Asahan niyo na ang lungsod ng Maynila, sa panguguna ni Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso, with or without pandemic, tuloy-tuloy ang mga programa ng lungsod ng Maynila (Rest assured that the city of Manila, led by Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso, will continue its projects, with or without a pandemic)," Andres said in the broadcast.
"Hindi kami titigil hangga't hindi natutupad ang mga pangarap ni Mayor Isko Moreno para sa lungsod ng Maynila (We will not stop until we have not fulfilled Mayor Isko Moreno's dreams for the city of Manila)," he added.