A pleasant environment, a place to visit, and a plaza that is good for health. This is what is expected to happen with the Plaza Azul Redevelopment Project in the city of Manila under the Green Green Green Program.

 

Plaza Azul, located on the center island of President Quirino Avenue in Pandacan, Manila, is set to undergo redevelopment to transform it into a large green space with landscaping and park facilities for all Manileños.

 

In a message delivered by Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Wilford Will L. Wong during the ocular inspection, DBM Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman said that the plaza will showcase the government’s commitment to enhancing residents’ quality of life, promoting environmental care, and fostering community.

 

“This plaza will be a concrete testament of our pursuit of improving the quality of life for our residents, promoting environmental stewardship, and fostering a sense of community.  It will pave the way for future developments, setting a benchmark for other cities to follow in our collective effort to build a greener and more sustainable nation," Secretary Mina stated.

 

Sec. Mina also thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for approving the Green Green Green Program, which she said aligns with the Bagong Pilipinas vision.

 

“This approach aligns with the principles of Bagong Pilipinas, striving for a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for the benefit of all Filipinos,” Secretary Pangandaman added.

 

The recently-launched Green Green Green Program is an initiative aimed at supporting beneficiary provinces, cities, and municipalities in promoting green open spaces and infrastructure projects for active mobility. The DBM allocated ₱1.055 billion under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for 80 local governments nationwide, including 38 provinces, cities, and municipalities in Luzon (including Metro Manila), 21 in the Visayas, and 21 in Mindanao and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

 

The program also plays a crucial role in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.

 

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Romando S. Artes and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna expressed their gratitude to DBM for bringing the Green Green Green Program to beautify Plaza Azul. MMDA is one of the implementing agencies for the Green Green Green Program, along with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

 

“Pasalamatan po natin ang DBM na nag-contribute ng P39 million para po magawa itong napakagandang parke dito po sa lugar na ito,” according to Artes.

 

“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa DBM at syempre sa MMDA sa pagdadala ng proyektong ito dito sa Maynila. Hangad ko po, gaya ng nasabi ko, na marami pang ganitong uri ng mga proyekto ang magkatuwang na maisagawa ng local at nasyonal na pamahalaan,”  Mayor Lacuna said.