Mayor Isko mulls vertical greening program

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Thursday bared his plan on implementing a vertical greening program in the city to improve the air quality.

Citing information from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Moreno said that Manila needs 1,600 hectares of open green space to be considered an ecologically-sound city.

“Pipilitin naming maging malinis ang hangin sa lungsod ng Maynila,” he said.

He added that to adopt the greening initiatives of other urban areas around the globe, the local government will go beyond horizontal expansion of lands covered with plants and trees.

“Pumasyal kayo sa Jones Bridge makikita ninyo ‘yung aming pagkilos because that is the focal point for the vertical greens in the city of Manila,” he said.

“That is the testing ground, pinaka-polluted, mainit, walang source of water,” he added.

Reducing trucks in Manila

Moreno also proposes  reclamation near North Harbor Pier 2 and Pier 4 to provide warehousing services for cargo shipments and reduce the need for trucks.

“With regards to the utilization of Pier 2 and Pier 4 which is within the former domestic port in the city of Manila, it is underutilized and walang maaapektuhan doon sa lugar na ‘yun,” the mayor said.

“So, if there’s a chance for the private sector which I suggested, put a landmass there, create an open space to make it a hub,” he added.

Around 4,000 trucks ply the western section of Manila everyday. By establishing warehouses in the proposed reclamation sites, Moreno projects that this number would be reduced—addressing both the issues of traffic and air pollution.

“Para ‘yung kargamento galing sa barko pagdating sa puerto baba sa warehouse, walang lumabas na truck sa kalye ng Manila,” he said.

“Dati ang private sector nagsa-suggest ng reclamation kasi ang gusto nila parang BGC ba, more on profit. Kami baligtad, we suggest because we want to address the problem,” he added. —LDF, GMA News