For better mental health: Angara eyes dev't of addt'l parks, open spaces

Senator Sonny Angara is seeking the development of more parks, recreational facilities, and open spaces as a means to help Filipinos cope with mental health issues.

During the hearing on the proposed 2024 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Angara suggested a shift or expansion of the menu of the agency to include the development of parks and recreational facilities.

He noted how the DPWH has already completed the paving of almost all roads across the country and has undertaken numerous big-ticket infrastructure projects that are already benefiting the people.

With at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffering from mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, based on data coming from the Department of Health (DOH), Angara said mental health is clearly an issue that cannot and should not be ignored.

“These are issues that cannot be fully addressed overnight but there are some things that we can do immediately to help. Putting up more parks, recreational and sports facilities and including open spaces in urban planning will go a long way in improving the physical and mental well-being of our people, particularly those who reside in highly-urbanized areas,” Angara said.

“We could expand the concept of public works to include the development of parks, esplanades and other similar projects. Admittedly space is a problem especially with the metropolitan areas but we can always be creative in how we utilize smaller spaces,” he added.

Angara explained that the goal was to make the people less confined and to encourage them to go out more, engage in physical activities and interact with people.

In the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index for 2023, Metro Manila was ranked 136th among 173 cities—down four places from the previous year’s rankings.

The index uses several metrics for its ranking, including health care, the environment, culture, and infrastructure.

Apart from providing residents with good health care, infrastructure, accessible and efficient public transportation, Angara argued that the availability of safe and walkable streets, lanes for non-motorized transportation, sports and recreational facilities and access to culture and entertainment all help in making local government units livable.

Angara has filed several bills aimed at promoting the development of open spaces and livable communities, including Senate Bill (SB) No. 629 or the proposed Greening Act, which seeks to ensure sufficient greenery in urban and countryside areas by making it mandatory to plant trees in parks, as well as, in school grounds, vacant lots and other urbanized sites all over the country. 

There is also SB No. 767, which will reorganize the National Parks Development Committee and rename it as the Public Parks Development Authority. This will ensure the proper maintenance of public parks and open spaces, precisely to improve public health and provide a respite from an increasingly urbanized lifestyle. 

Angara is also a co-author of SB No. 1290 or the Walkable and Bikeable Communities Act, which the Senate has already approved.

“With a greater focus on these initiatives, we can help in addressing physical and mental health issues and provide our people with an overall better quality of life,” Angara said.