PRA-MMDA inks moa for green and open spaces
From L-R: MMDA General Manager, Undersecretary Procorpio G. Lipana, MMDA Acting Chairman, Atty. Romando S. Artes, PRA Acting General Manager and CEO, PBGen. Nolasco K. Bathan (Ret.), and PRA Assistant General Manager for Land Development, Construction Management, and Technical Services, Atty. Joselito D. Gonzales.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Roxas Covered Canal Promenade Project in a MOA signing and groundbreaking ceremony on 13 September 2023 at Le Pavillon, Metropolitan Park, Central Business Park I – Island A, Pasay City.
The project is located along the 20-meter-wide concrete cover of Roxas Canal parallel to Roxas Boulevard, extending from EDSA Extension to Libertad Channel. It is bounded on the west by CBP 1A Reclamation Area (Metrobank / Metropolitan Park) and on the east by Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City. The project aims to provide green and public open spaces through the establishment of social infrastructures like a wellness plaza, jogging lanes, bike paths, pet parks, and playground areas, among others.
Projected layout, features, and amenities of the Roxas Covered Canal Promenade Project.
In the ceremony, the PRA is represented by its Acting Chairman of the Board, Lt. Gen. Oscar T. Lactao (Ret.), Acting General Manager and CEO, PBGen. Nolasco K. Bathan (Ret.), Director Ulysses T. Sevilla, Director Dioscoro E. Esteban Jr., Assistant General Manager for Technical Services, Atty. Joselito D. Gonzales, Assistant General Manager for Legal and Administrative Services, Atty. Johanna Irene M. Gargantiel, Land Development and Construction Management Department Manager, Engr. Ramon N. Aurellano Jr., Material Testing and Quality Control Division Manager, Engr. Edwin B. Berce, Board Secretary, Atty. Mark Arthur M. Catabona, and Acting Corporate Planning Division Manager, Ms. Ynna Margarita G. Yalong-Gelomina.
For the MMDA, the event was attended by Acting Chairman, Atty. Romando S. Artes, Deputy Chairman, Usec. Frisco S. San Juan, Jr., General Manager, Usec. Procopio G. Lipana, and other senior officials.
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert B. Guevara served as the Guest of Honor while Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano delivered her message of support. Chairman Alfred V. Ty and President Thomas F. Mirasol of Federal Land Inc. also participated in the ceremony.
PRA Governing Board and Management Committee together with SDES Hubert B. Guevara during the MOA signing and groundbreaking ceremony.
The Roxas Covered Canal Promenade Project is an outcome of a mutual understanding and commitment to address the problem of urban decay and the shortage of green and open spaces in Metro Manila. It contributes to the solution by promoting and developing such spaces.
MMDA Acting Chairman Artes expressed his satisfaction with PRA’s steadfast cooperation as a government partner in realizing MMDA’s vision to provide a greener metropolis that promotes urban greening and open space development in Metro Manila. This is aimed at reducing urban decay, mitigating heat island effects, improving air quality, and enhancing the urban landscape for the metropolis’ citizens. Acting Chairman Artes also hinted that the Roxas Covered Canal Promenade Project is envisioned to become the longest linear park in Metro Manila with the support of PRA and LGUs.
PRA, as the owner of the Roxas Canal North Inland Channel with a concrete cover located at Roxas Boulevard on a reclaimed land, assumes an active role in providing green and open spaces in all reclamation projects. Under PRA Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 2019-05, proponents of reclamation projects are mandated to allocate five percent of land area for greenspaces in reclamation projects. This serves as a soft engineering strategy for climate change adaptation by establishing landscaped public open spaces in urban and urbanized areas vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic hazards.
PRA Governing Board, MMDA and City Government of Pasay officials during the groundbreaking and capsule-laying ceremony of the Roxas Boulevard Promenade Project.
Message of support of Acting GM and CEO Bathan on behalf of the PRA Governing Board and Management Committee.
In his message, PRA Acting GM and CEO Bathan expressed a strong commitment to developing green and open spaces for the benefit of the Filipino people. This commitment is institutionalized in PRA through the mandatory integration of greenspaces for the development of mini-forests, eco-parks, or small nature parks designated for recreational purposes and readily accessible to the public in all reclamation projects. Pursuant to the abovementioned PRA AO, Acting GM and CEO Bathan is dedicated to implementing sustainable development to be able to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, following the principles of social equity, efficiency, and environmental integrity.
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Guevara reiterated the importance and necessity of green and open spaces as social infrastructures for recreation and leisure, cultural activities, sports and athletics, mental wellness, and relaxation, among other hobbies. These spaces ultimately contribute to social cohesion and nation-building.
The PRA recognizes that green and open spaces improve the quality of life of Filipinos. These spaces offer a wide range of added values, from environmental and health benefits to economic and community-building advantages. These are essential for individuals and families to allow them to relax, exercise, and connect with nature, which positively impacts their physical and mental well-being. Hence, the PRA supports the establishment and maintenance of these green and open spaces.