The newly-proclaimed mayor-elect Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso promises to preserve the Arroceros Forest Park and the Manila Zoo, amid threats to sell those city properties.
“We will try to make it na talagang parang pasyalan ng tao,” Domagoso said during an interview in a radio yesterday morning.
He added that he wanted to reopen the Arroceros Park, dubbed as the last lung of Manila, to the public and develop it into a place where visitors can relax and have fun.
Earlier this year, incumbent mayor Joseph Estrada planned to turn the park into a gymnasium. Then during the midterm elections, he said he also plans to preserve the park with hanging bridges to be built on the perimeters of the park so that anyone could enjoy the view from the top.
The park is currently located beside the Pasig River in the area of Lawton, covered with about 1,500 trees and is home to 26 resident and migratory bird species.
On the other hand, Domagoso added that he would also look at the situation of the animals at the Manila Zoo, which he said would also not be sold.
“We’ll look into it. We guarantee you that all animals will be protected.”
Earlier this year, Estrada ordered for the closure of the Manila Zoo to be assessed and studied after Department of Environment and Natural Resources Roy Cimatu called out the facility’s management for being a major pollutant of Manila Bay.
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