Green, Green, Green Program: Key to Making Cities Liveable

 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