New look for Manila’s recreation centers

To avoid vehicular accidents involving children this summer, the city government of Manila is bent on renovating the recreational facilities in the area to encourage the youth not to turn the streets into playgrounds.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said with the start of the schoolbreak, children would be able to dedicate a lot of time to playing, and recreational facilities should be ready to entertain them.

Atienza said there is a need to encourage the children to utilize the recreational areas and discouraged them from turning the streets. This way, the city government hopes to avert vehicular accidents.

He added, "Our children can enjoy the free use of our recreational facilities instead of playing in the streets where they are exposed to vehicular accidents and other dangers."

Atienza said he has already issued a directive to the Parks Development Office (PDO) to improve surroundings in the city. These places of recreation must be "in tiptop condition as we anticipate the number of people who would be using them."

The City Engineer’s Office was also tasked to make the necessary repairs and replacements of equipment and lighting in the various playgrounds, sports complexes and public plazas. These areas should be well lit especially at night, the mayor said.

The City Engineer’s Office was also ordered to speed up the construction in open spaces being redeveloped, particularly the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo.

He called on two other departments to take advantage of the dry weather in the next two months. "We must speed up our redevelopment efforts so that the people could enjoy the city government’s projects this season."

Barangays with swimming pools in their community are likewise tasked to maintain them properly. The city itself has four sports complexes with swimming pools - Tondo, Dapitan, San Andres and Bagong Buhay along Pedro Gil.