Mayor Honey orders MDSW, PDO clear city park of vendors, street dwellers
MANILA Mayor Maria Sheila “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan directed the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) to help the Parks Development Office (PDO) to clear the city park center island of street dwellers and vendors and help them find a better place to live.
The appeal was made by the city chief executive during the regular flag raising ceremony on Monday held at the Kartilya ng Katipunan wherein the PDO, who served as host, handed out their duties in maintaining a clean, beautiful, orderly, and greener parks and center islands.
The mayor knew that maintaining a greener and beautiful parks and center islands is hard during the dry season and added to it what the vendors and street dwellers are doing to make it a place to live.
“Napakalaking challenge po sa kanila (PDO) ang ginagawa nila ngayon dahil kahit ano po ang gawin nilang pagtatanim, sadya pong hindi maiwasan na magkamatayan ang mga halaman sa sobrang init. Isa rin pong challenge sa kanila na mapanatili, lalu na ang ating mga center island, na wala po sanang mga naninirahang mga street dwellers at vendors,” the mayor said.
The mayor also encouraged the public to visit the Arroceros Forest Park at the back of the Metropolitan Theater to enjoy the beauty of the park.
She said the Arroceros Forest Park environment is cozier with plenty of shades from grown trees.
“Marami na pong wildlife doon, marami na pong mga ibon na kasama po nating pinoproteksyunan kaya nga kung kasama ang inyong mga pamilya, sana po, huwag nyong gambalain ang atin pong mga hayop o ibon na naroon. Huwag nyo’ pong huhulihin, hindi po ito iniuuwi sa bahay,” Mayor Honey reminded the public.
The mayor added that Arroceros Forest Park is now being considered as “last love” of the City of Manila and she wanted more greener open areas and parks in the city in the years to come.
