A vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday urged Congress to complement the administration’s P2.5-billion “Green, Green, Green” initiative on the development of eco-friendly parks in the country with the swift passage of a bill creating a new government body to oversee this program.
Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr. of the Second District of Camarines Sur said his proposal under House Bill (HB) 6047 seeks to create a Recreation and Relaxation Development Council (RRDC) that will oversee the establishment of green parks or public recreational places, especially in highly urbanized cities, will provide the organizational setup needed to ensure the seamless implementation of Malacañang’s Green program.
“The creation of this council fits Malacañang’s Green, Green Green program to a tee. It will also institutionalize this program to sustain the development of more eco-friendly public spaces and ensure the regular maintenance of the existing green parks,” Villafuerte said.
Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno earlier said the government has allotted P2.5 billion under the 2018 national budget for the Green, Green, Green program that aims to transform cities into more livable and sustainable communities.
Diokno said this program, which is a component of the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program, will continue to receive funding until 2022.
He said the funding will help city governments create forest parks, arboretums, botanical gardens, bike lanes, walkways and other improvements to make urban areas more livable and relaxing.
“We welcome this initiative to make our cities greener, cleaner and healthier. The Green, Green, Green program, along with my proposal to create the RRDC, will empower our local government units [LGUs] to transform their congested urban centers into more livable communities,” Villafuerte said.
The bill aims “to enhance the overall quality of life for the citizens of the city or municipality and not serve as mere value-adding property.”
“For a state that prioritizes the well-being of its people, it becomes imperative that it provide spaces that allow relaxation—spaces for social interactions and recreation. Recreation spaces, such as parks, fill the absence of green space and helps improve air quality, especially for highly urbanized cities, ultimately helping reduce carbon-emission levels,” Villafuerte said in his explanatory note to HB 6047.
These green parks, he added, will also serve as buffers for noise pollution and help improve climate and humidity levels while reducing the heat in urban areas, which, in turn, will improve the overall health and well-being of people.
Under the bill, the RRDC will also examine the needs of the people in the areas where these green parks would be developed through consultations with stakeholders.
This proposed RRDC shall be chaired by the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government and shall include representatives from the departments of Public Works and Highways and of Environment and Natural Resources; one professor each from the University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning and the UP College of Architecture; and one representative each from the Philippine Green Building Council and the National Parks Development Committee, as members.
The bill said that, a city or municipality already has an existing recreational space, the concerned local government unit shall coordinate with the RRDC to ensure that the area complies with the requirements specified under the proposal.
Recreational spaces specified under the bill shall comprise facilities that include green spaces, educational spaces, parks, gardens and horticulture areas, sports facilities, community halls, cultural facilities, and playing fields.
The bill also mandates LGUs to prepare their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plans that shall be enacted through zoning ordinances and utilizing urban planning approaches that promote physical activity.