The country’s capital city seeks to open more green spaces as part of efforts to care for the environment.

“Ang inyong pamahalaang lungsod ay hindi po tumitigil sa kanyang layunin na mapanatiling maaliwalas o maging maaliwalas ang Lungsod ng Maynila (Your city government does not stop in its vision to maintain the city clean and clear). We dedicate this day to you—to the people of Manila, and those people who will come in and out of the city,” Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said during the unveiling ceremony of the city’s hidden garden at the Liwasang Bonifacio on Tuesday night.

Domagoso said the one-hectare garden at the heart of the city is dedicated to the future generations of Manila residents.

He added that creating more green spaces in the city will help generate cleaner and “more breathable” air even in a highly urbanized area like Manila.

The garden will also have its own coffee shop, similar to the one at the Kartilya ng Katipunan that will help generate jobs and help the city’s economy to recover amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

Domagoso said he will try to maintain his priorities and dreams for the city and vowed to stay transparent and spend only on important projects that are not just “icing on the cakes”.

“Ang lahat ng bagay na gagawin natin on top of the pandemic approach is mga bagay na kapaki-pakinabang ng pangmatagalan katulad halimbawa ng paglilinis ng kapaligiran kasama na ang pagbibigay ng sariwa at malinis na hangin (Everything that we will do on top of the pandemic approach are initiatives that will be useful and long-lasting like cleaning our environment that will lead to a fresher and cleaner air),” he said.

The mayor also asked Manilenyos to keep the place clean and treat the garden as their own. (PNA)