City eyes barangay ‘green zones’

The city government is asking barangay officials to submit a list or inventory of spaces and areas in their respective barangays that can be developed into  ‘green zones’ in line with efforts to revitalize the Summer Capital’s environment. 

Criteria include: It must not be private property; the public area or space may or may not be presently devoted to public use like public parks and playgrounds, mini or roadside gardens, sidewalks, rotondas, barangay roads, lands identified for barangay use, barangay or multipurpose halls, protected waterways or tributaries, forest reservations, and protected watersheds.

Public lands donated to the city or barangay for which no development has yet been done; those owned by the National Government for which no development has yet been done; public lands owned by the National Government where structures have already been put up, are the other criteria. 

Community Affairs Officer III Briccio Domondon of the City Mayor’s Office Special Services Division said barangay officials are requested not to limit their submission to only one area or space but several sites for later evaluation and determination whether these have the potential to be established as green zones within their respective barangays.

He said that if the project is successful, “the city envisions an environment that is protected and maintained by stakeholders in every barangay as co-managers and environmental stewards.” 

Submission of the list or inventory is not later than November 30, 2021. — Gaby B. Keith