Belmonte and business owners in the area have forged an agreement to turn the avenue into a landscaped promenade and business center under a sidewalk development plan.
The mayor said he had conceived of the development of Tomas Morato Avenue — named after the city’s second mayor — into a business and tourism area when he was still the congressman of the city’s fourth district.
"The city government is pouring an initial P15 million into the Tomas Morato Sidewalk Development Plan", Belmonte said.
The project also includes the improvement of five barangays, namely: Kamuning, Laging Handa, Obrero, Paligsahan and Roxas.
To ensure the successful implementation of the project, owners of establishments have formed the Tomas Morato Business Club, which will serve as the umbrella organization of all businesses in the area.
Club president Mitos Araneta has agreed to reposition their signage and work for the relocation of utility poles along the avenue to make the sidewalks pedestrian-friendly.
Tomas Morato Avenue is one of the seven growth nodes chosen by the Belmonte administration for fast-track development in collaboration with the private sectors. Other areas for development are Timog Avenue, Banawe Avenue, Metro Cubao, Libis, Novaliches and the North Triangle Area. – Perseus Echeminada