Zamboanga City will celebrate its 84th Charter Day on February 26, and what better way to mark such historic event than the inauguration of a tourist landmark, the newly completed rehabilitation and beautification of R.T. Lim Boulevard.
Mayor Beng Climaco said the inauguration rites will strictly follow the health protocols such as the wearing of face masks, face shields and physical distancing of people who will attend the event on a historic day.
Undergoing similar rehabilitation is the Paseo del Mar, which is almost complete, and soon the parks and gardens near City Hall, according to the mayor.
The boulevard project was funded P74 million under the “Green Green Green” program of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The program aims to make the country’s 145 cities more livable and sustainable through the development of public open spaces. “Green, Green, Green” is a component of the Duterte administration’s massive national infrastructure development program, “Build, Build, Build”.
P2.5 billion has been appropriated for the program in the 2018 national budget. The allocation for each city was computed based on their respective population counts and land area measurements.
“Green, Green, Green” will help city governments create forest parks, arboretum, and botanical gardens; improve livability of urban areas through various activities and methods such as landscaping, turfing, and tree planting; and transform streetscapes through installation of eco-friendly street furniture, fixtures, and shading.
In addition, the city governments will increase connectivity and accessibility of public open spaces by creating bike lanes and walkways, and enhance sustainability through the construction of green infrastructure like bioswales and pervious surfaces, which aid during rainy season and flooding.-(Vic Larato)