Life is beautiful in Taguig
Taguig is fast becoming the handsome high-rise city that is the dream address of modern urbanites. Think Taguig and you have
Outside The Fort, however, you think of a contrasting Taguig in terms of a manufacturing and fishing area with its share of shanties. That dividing line between two Taguigs will soon be erased, if we go by the dream and the vision of Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga.
New neighborhoods of affordable housing units and condos are rising fast on the other side of Taguig, and the even better news is that they look so good. The units we saw were so neat and pretty, such as those styled by topnotch architect Anna Sy, artist Doltz Pilar and designer Aruro Go. “We have over a thousand housing units completed and we plan to build homes for 30,000 families in the next 10 years,”declares the hardworking Mayor Tinga whom you will often see wearing a hardhat in construction sites.
“Our long-term plan is to build homes, clear shanty towns, take on the squatter syndicates, change people’s mindsets and instill the proper values,” explains Tinga. “The difference between those who opted to change their lives vs. those who insist in living in squalor is what inspires us to keep pushing this housing program despite insurmountable odds.”
Partnering with NGOs who are committed to housing the homeless like Gawad Kalinga, Habitat for Humanity and Coalition for the Homeless, Mayor Tinga is so focused on finishing these shelters nonstop, a new housing complex rises in Taguig every so often.
“Our dream is to develop our lakeshore area — which is the largest tract of land left in Metro Manila — into a beautiful environment with a marina, golf courses, schools, commercial developments, residential subdivisions and areas for socialized housing.This is a plan being espoused by architect Jun Palafox of creating a no-snob, ‘inclusive’ development as opposed to the high-rise ‘exclusive’ development in Fort Boni,” Tinga shares.
“In this area, there will be no walls. Neighborhoods will be in sight of one another but creatively separated by parks and canals. This is how we can bridge the gap between rich and poor.”
Now, that is really beautiful.
