While nearing the end of her final term as the local chief executive of Makati City, Mayor Abby Binay proudly showcased the city's strides towards sustainability and improved public safety as she continues to make Makati a better city prepared for a better future.
In terms of green initiatives, Binay launched the Urban Greening Program which spearheaded the planting of more than 5,500 trees and the preservation of 17 public parks.
These are parts of the city's Green House Gasses (GHG) Reduction Ordinance aiming to reduce the city's emissions to 39 percent by the year 2030 and for it to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Her administration also made the city become more secured and safe for everyone by installing 868 CCTV cameras, 16 automatic rain gauges, seven automated weather stations, new and advanced police and fire headquarters, the creation of the Maka-SOS app, and the establishment of the Intelligent Operations Center for more effective emergency and disaster monitoring.
Under Binay's watch, the city has built 14 public infrastructures ranging from barangay halls to health centers.
The Makati Drainage Master Plan and the installation of solar panels on the city's public schools were also key projects in achieving Makati's goal towards sustainability.
"Ang lahat ng proyektong ito ay isinakatuparan upang gawing mas maayos, mas ligtas, at mas makabago ang ating pamayanan. Ang mga nagawa nating ito—mula sa greener na kapaligiran hanggang sa modernong imprastraktura—ay patunay na kaya nating makamit ang tunay na progreso (All of these projects attest to our mandate of making Makati safer and more sustainable for the benefit of our citizens. These initiatives, from preserving our environment and surroundings, to the creation of modern infrastructure, show that we in Makati have attained true progress)," Binay said.
She added that these can also be copied and implemented by other local government units (LGUs) both here and abroad.