Makati Mayor Eyes Iloilo River Promenade for Pasig River

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay is drawing inspiration from Iloilo City’s renowned Iloilo River Esplanade as she explores the potential development of a Pasig River promenade.

Binay, who arrived in Iloilo City on Sunday, November 17, ahead of the 44th CityNet Executive Committee Meeting, expressed her interest in learning from Iloilo’s success in implementing the project.

The meeting runs from November 18 to 20 at the Iloilo Convention Center brings together over 100 urban leaders and stakeholders from across the globe to discuss sustainable urban development and foster international partnerships.

In an interview with Daily Guardian, Mayor Binay praised Iloilo City for its progressive urban initiatives, particularly its clean environment, smoke-free policies, and the renowned Iloilo River Esplanade.

“I was surprised to learn that Iloilo has a no-smoking policy. We hope to implement something similar in Makati. I’m also very interested in visiting the promenade. I’ve spoken to Mayor Jerry Treñas, and he always mentions it. We aim to develop our own Pasig River promenade and would love to learn from Iloilo’s experience on how to successfully implement such a project,” Binay said.

She also commended Iloilo City for hosting the 44th CityNet meeting, noting it as an excellent opportunity to showcase achievements like being recognized as the “City of Gastronomy.”

Binay expressed her desire to share Makati’s innovations, highlighting the city’s commitment to resilience and smart city initiatives.

“From our practices, I would like to share about the Makati Zen Card and our other smart initiatives. I also want to focus on disaster resilience, especially given the increasing unpredictability of typhoons. Makati is a resilience hub, and we are continuously developing strategies to ensure our city remains prepared and adaptable,” she said.

Makati City has been recognized as a Resilience Hub, the first city in the Philippines and Southeast Asia to receive the distinction.

Key participants in the CityNet event include mayors from Philippine cities and international leaders from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Fiji, Malaysia, and Japan.

The program will feature discussions on sustainable housing and community resilience, led by Habitat for Humanity, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Global Parliament of Mayors to strengthen collaboration among CityNet members.