Manila excited over Luneta Boardwalk

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza is pushing for the completion of the Luneta Boardwalk project and expressed excitement over its potential as a prime tourist destination.

The boardwalk, which is being constructed beside the Manila Bay seawall at the back of the Quirino Grandstand, is a project of the Philippine Tourism Authority, the Department of Tourism and the City of Manila.

For the first time, members of the media toured the site yesterday morning, and Atienza did not have to try hard to convince them of its potential as they saw for themselves how the area has been transformed.

Most of those who accompanied Atienza during the tour, despite the bad weather agreed that the Luneta Boardwalk would become a favorite dining, entertainment, shopping and recreation destination for local and foreign tourists, much like what Darling Harbour in Sydney, Australia and Pier 39 in San Francisco, USA.

"That’s exactly what we had in mind when this project was conceptualized. This is going to be open to the public. People can take their families for a stroll, go fishing, watch the sunset, enjoy a good meal or shop for reasonably priced curio and souvenir items in the small shops that would be set-up around the area," Atienza said in reply to the observations of reporters.

Construction of the concrete base of the boardwalk, which is supported by sturdy piles driven into the seabed, is almost finished.