Manila Bulletin
Property and Living
Weekends made for movement as Ayala Land's Car-Free Sundays expands to Davao and Negros
Property and Living
Weekends made for movement as Ayala Land's Car-Free Sundays expands to Davao and Negros
Weekends made for movement as Ayala Land's Car-Free Sundays expands to Davao and Negros
Encouraging active weekends through shared public spaces
Published May 26, 2026 08:00 pm
Car-Free Sundays at Azuela Cove, Davao City, one of the newest additions to Ayala Land's open-street initiative. (Photo: Ayala Land)
Running has become one of the most accessible ways for people to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Weekends, in particular, give families and communities time to move together and spend time outdoors. As Car-Free Sundays expands across Ayala Land’s estates, it continues to encourage more people to use open, car-free streets for walking, running, and other active pursuits. The initiative now includes Azuela Cove in Davao City and North Point in Talisay City, Negros, extending its reach across Visayas and Mindanao.
The initiative traces its roots to Ayala Avenue in Makati, where opening a major urban road to people instead of vehicles was still an experiment. It quickly gained traction. What started in a single location has since evolved into a weekly activity across multiple cities, now including community sports, social fitness, and other events while keeping its original focus on open streets and shared public space.
(Photo: Ayala Land)
(Photo: Ayala Land)
Azuela Cove, a 25-hectare waterside development established in 2019, is one of the newest sites for Car-Free Sundays, offering a more relaxed setting for the initiative. Here, the program leans into leisure, with visitors exploring the estate on vintage bicycles, tandem bikes, or electric scooters. Open streets encourage a slower pace, allowing people to take in parks and waterfront views without rush. At Azuela Cove, the focus shifts away from structured fitness and toward easy movement and shared outdoor time.
North Point, located within residential villages in Talisay City, brings a quieter approach to Car-Free Sundays. The setup is simpler here, prioritizing open, safe streets that residents can use for walking and biking at their own pace. Without structured programs or scheduled activities, the space is used in a more natural way. It blends into the weekend routine, fitting easily into the slower rhythm of suburban life.
Families and residents take to the streets at North Point in Talisay City, Negros. (Photo: Ayala Land)
Ayala Avenue in Makati, the street that started it all. (Photo: Ayala Land)
(Photo: Ayala Land)
The expansion reflects the steady growth already seen in Cebu. In Cebu Business Park and Cebu I.T. Park, Car-Free Sundays is approaching its third year, with continued participation across both sites. Cebu Business Park has extended its hours to five in the afternoon and introduced a Sunday market along with outdoor pickleball sessions. Cebu I.T. Park remains a consistent draw for joggers, cyclists, pet owners, and families, reinforcing its role as one of the city’s most walkable districts.
One road in Makati was enough to start it, and three regions later, it is still growing. Today, Car-Free Sundays spans Cebu, Davao, and Negros with the same purpose across all locations. On Sundays, streets that spend the rest of the week moving vehicles become spaces for walking, running, and gathering. The streets change for one day, but the habit they build lasts the whole week.