The Manila City government along with the Department of Budget Management (DBM) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 18, for the construction of the new park "Plaza Azul" in Pandacan, Manila.
The project is under the MMDA's "Adopt-a-Park" program, which was launched in 2022 to develop green spaces in the cities, reduce urban decay, and provide public events and wellness activities.
MMDA said it has already inaugurated over 27 parks across Metro Manila.
"The Plaza Azul Redevelopment Project has the support of our administration and the City of Manila because it is thoroughly consistent with the continuing goal of making Manila a livable and living capital city of the Philippines," Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan said.
The mayor noted that aside from Plaza Azul, the city government is also constructing the Pasig River Esplanade.
The local chief executive also said that the city government continues its initiatives on the maintenance of Arroceros Park, and the preservation and restoration of the historic Escolta, and further development of the Manila Zoo.
In collaboration with Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), she said that Congress has also started planning the residential-commercial township plans for Manila's urban poor to make Manila a livable city.
"Ongoing is the legislative quest of Congressman Joel Chua about the Quiapo Heritage Zone. Gradually and progressively we will assemble all these moving parts into one complete City of Manila," she added.