You can now visit the Arroceros Urban Forest Park but with a koi pond, water fountains, and a coffee shop, is it still a “forest”?
AFTER months of work, the Manila City Government formally opened the Arroceros Urban Forest Park, known as the capital’s “last lung” last February 4.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso led the inauguration on Friday night, two years after he signed Ordinance No. 8607 declaring the area as a permanent forest park.
“Masaya po ako na kahit paano ay naisalba po natin ang Arroceros Park,” said Moreno in his speech inviting those who have physical and mental health concerns to unwind at the park.
In 1992, the capital city purchased the 2.2-hectare land, home to more than 3,000 trees of 61 varieties, 8,000 ornamental plants, and 10 bird species.
As part of his developmental plans for the city, Moreno kick-started the redevelopment in September last year extending the space to 2.71 hectares and erecting new park features.
Such features include water fountains, elevated walkways, a coffee shop, trail bridge, Koi pond, meditation area, vertical garden, play areas for children, and improved comfort rooms.
However, a number of environmental advocates visited Arroceros Park in November during its construction and called for a revised design and approach to “minimize further destruction”.
During their visit, the Save Arroceros Movement comprised of environmental and civil society groups observed that cemented areas and walkways replaced the natural forest path.
Members shared photos of the park under development and compared them to old photos of the park.
“This newly cemented area will be a playground?” wrote Chiqui Sy-Quia Mabanta remembering that the same area already had a natural flat land. “Shouldn’t playgrounds have soft ground? The forest was the playground.”
The group also saw that a concrete chair donated by the National Artist for Sculpture was “ruined in the process of redevelopment”.
Their manifesto called to stop the redevelopment project and decided the lack of cooperation with them and other groups such as Winner Foundation, Manila Doctors Hospital, and Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society Inc.
According to the movement, because the city government did not coordinate with the concerned groups, the forest has become less of a forest and more of a “manicured park” with ornamental and exotic plants not native to the area.
Save Arroceros Movement has not made a new statement after the inauguration.
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