Exposure to natural environments significantly reduces stress levels. Living in spaces surrounded by nature—whether the majestic mountains, the tranquil sea, or lush gardens and forests—is a powerful antidote to stress. (https://business.inquirer.net/468670/the-healing-power-of-greenery#ixzz8gIYcdBTm)
Studies have shown that
exposure to natural environments significantly reduces stress levels and
profoundly impacts our mental well-being. For instance, people living near
green spaces report lower stress levels and decreased cortisol, the stress
hormone, which can lead to improved overall health and a more robust immune
system. The natural scenery fosters calm and tranquility, a crucial element
often missing in urban environments. (https://business.inquirer.net/468670/the-healing-power-of-greenery#ixzz8gIYcdBTm)
Recognizing the important role
of the green spaces in creating liveable and sustainable urban centers, the
national government has provided an allocation for the “development or enhancement of public open space by creating
esplanades, parks, arboretum, or botanical gardens, and building bike lanes,
walkways, and green infrastructure (DBM).” Therefore, people in the cities
which accounts to “over 50 million Filipinos can look forward to a healthier,
more pleasant, and more relaxing life (DBM).”
The program is
dubbed as the “Green, Green, Green which is now in full swing and funded under
the Local Government Support Fund - Assistance to Cities (LGSF-AC) (DBM).” It
assists the Philippines’ 145 cities and their local government units (LGUs) in
making their communities more livable, sustainable, and well-connected through
the development or enhancement of public open space by creating esplanades,
parks, arboretum, or botanical gardens, and building bike lanes, walkways, and
green infrastructure(DBM).
The program is a parallel
endeavor to the massive national infrastructure development program Build,
Build, Build (DBM).
Currently, 100 cities are now
processing their project proposals out of the 143 that submitted their
expression of interest to avail of the funding (DBM).
Cities are investing in a
variety of public open spaces which they have identified as important civic
spaces for their citizens. These include: institutional open spaces such as new
government centers (10); public squares and plazas (20); mangroves (2); parks
(54); waterfronts (25); streets (13). Another 19 cities are still finalizing
their proposed site (DBM).
The following are some
urban development programs in various cities in the Philippines cited by the
DBM in its website:
· Plaza Rehabilitation in San Juan City
· · Park Redevelopment in Marikina City
·
Park, Plaza, and Port in Dagupan City
· · Valenzuela City’s Polo Park
·
River esplanades in five cities
·
Wet Park in Iligan City
·
Mangrove Parks in the cities of Mandaue and Masbate
· · Quezon City’s streetscape project “Gora Lane”
·
Historic Downtown Redevelopment in Antipolo City
·
Redevelopment of waterfront boulevard in Zamboanga City
·
Caloocan City’s nature park
References
Green,
Green, Green pushes city governments to build better open spaces. Department of
Budget and Management accessed at https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.php/management-2/758-green-green-green-pushes-city-governments-to-build-better-open-spaces
The
healing power of greenery by Ar. John Ian Lee Fulgar. Philippine Daily Inquirer
accessed at (https://business.inquirer.net/468670/the-healing-power-of-greenery#ixzz8gIYcdBTm
/ 10:55 AM July 13, 2024
