Mayor Isko breaks ground on Manila's first senior citizens', community pet park
What was once a dusty, dimly lit open space under the Skyway in Pandacan is set to become a haven for Manila's senior citizens—and their pets.
Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno" Domagoso leads the groundbreaking of Manila’s first Senior Citizens Park and Community Pet Park (Plaza Azul) in Pandacan on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. The project, aimed at providing safe and green spaces for senior citizens and pets, was joined by Vice Mayor Chi Atienza and other local officials. (Photo courtesy of Manila Public Information Office)
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso led the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the Senior Citizens Park and Community Pet Park (Plaza Azul), a project developed in partnership with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the MMDA.
The park located along President Quirino Avenue in Pandacan, Manila, will give senior citizens a safe place for morning stretches, wellness activities, and open-air recreation.
It will also feature Manila’s first community pet park, allowing residents and their animals to enjoy a shared, green space.
The mayor recalled how the area had become unsafe at night, but partnerships with the private sector have brightened the site.
“P20.8 million ang binigay, at ngayon, lumiwanag ang boundary ng Manila mula dito hanggang sa dulo (P20.8 million was given—and now, the boundary of Manila is illuminated from here all the way to the end),” he said.
Domagoso described the project as a symbol of inter-agency cooperation and said it will improve air quality, reduce dust, and create safer spaces for families, senior citizens, and pet owners in Pandacan and nearby communities.
With construction underway, he said the Pandacan residents can look forward to a green space where both the young at heart and their four-legged companions can thrive.