MANILA, Philippines — Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday led the groundbreaking for the construction of the Bagong Manila Zoo to revive and redevelop the animal park.
Moreno said the infrastructure project, which will cover 51,000 square meters, is part of his administration’s agenda to stimulate the city’s economy in the long term. It is expected to be completed in 19 months.
The project began on the 61st founding anniversary of the Manila Zoo that was closed to the public after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) tagged the facility as a major pollutant of Manila Bay during the previous administration.
According to the DENR, the zoo, which does not have a sewage treatment plant, was dumping untreated sewage into Estero de San Antonio Abad.
Because of this, the city government will build a sewage treatment plant, a materials recovery facility and a new veterinary hospital under the redevelopment plan. It will also include the construction of new habitats for animals, gardens, public toilets, a museum, a restaurant and a new parking area.
With these plans, the Mayor hopes to build a zoo that is “similar and competitive to Singapore Zoo.”
“You are going to witness this, we are going to build in the near future the best zoo in Asia,” Moreno said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “I am happy that we are not only going to build a zoo, a clean zoo, but a healthier zoo for our animals. I want the best for you, mga Batang Maynila.”
Moreno reminded his constituents that while there is still a COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Manila must address both life and economy to survive.
“For the meantime, we must learn to live while there is COVID-19 and at the same time, we must learn to go back to work safely. Life and economy must be addressed together for us to survive this battle,” he stressed.