Build public parks, Olivarez urges barangay leaders

MANILA, Philippines — Parañaque Mayor Eric Olivarez is urging barangay captains to build public parks as part of the city’s disaster preparedness program after a strong earthquake struck Northern Luzon last week.

In a statement over the weekend, Olivarez said parks and other public open spaces in barangays and private subdivisions would serve as evacuation sites during disasters.

“Like other countries in Asia, the Philippines is prone to disasters. Our islands are regularly impacted by floods, typhoons, landslides, earthquakes and droughts,” he said.

According to the mayor, since there are hundreds of private and gated subdivisions in the city, the communities should have more parks to accommodate evacuees.

“It is necessary to provide open spaces that are easily accessible to residents as evacuation sites during and post disasters,” Olivarez said.

He said out of 16 barangays in the city, only six erected public parks for the past three decades.

Olivarez said his administration would allocate millions of pesos in funding for the construction of more public parks in the city.