Manila gears up for further development

The city government of Manila will be more development-oriented in the year 2002.

This was declared by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, who also announced the city government’s plans to improve the stretch of Roxas Blvd., from the back of Quirino Grandstand to the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

"The improvement of the whole stretch of Roxas Blvd. as a promenade area will be our centerpiece project for this year. The plan is dubbed as Roxas Boulevard Redevelopment Plan," Atienza told reporters in a forum.

According to the mayor, Manila is the only city by the bay in Metro Manila that has been able to preserve its frontage as mandated by City Ordinance No. 7777. The ordinance prohibits any reclamation project along the portion of Manila Bay.

"We would like to maximize this advantage," he said.

Under the plan, the promenade area in front of the bay will be given a facelift and additional bright lights will be installed. Squatters and vagrants would also be cleared from the area.

Atienza said the revitalization of the bay area is set to compliment the Luneta Broadwalk Project, a joint venture of the city government of Manila and the Philippine Tourism Authority. The mayor also said the scheduled inauguration of Liwasang Bonifacio in February, will coincide with the anniversary of the Liberation of Manila.

"The reopening and inauguration of Liwasang Bonifacio, which we have transformed into a genuine plaza that is truly worthy or its name, marks the acceleration of our development effort for this year," said Atienza. — Cecille Suerte Felipe