[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 30, 2008
By ROY C. MABASA
In line with the city’s beautification drive, Manila is set to light up more streets on main thoroughfares, including bridges spanning the Pasig River, and the stretch of Roxas Boulevard from the United States Embassy to the Manila Yacht Club, where local and foreign tourists witness the famed Manila Bay sunset.
Last Wednesday, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim switched on the new lights on Jones Bridge as he launched the city’s lighting project which aims to brighten Manila with more lamp posts on streets and other bridges.
Next on schedule are MacArthur Bridge connecting Liwasang Bonifacio to Sta. Cruz, Del Pan Bridge from Port Area to Del Pan, Ayala Bridge going towards Legarda and Malacañang and Lambingan Bridge moving to Sta. Mesa.
Lim has challenged barangay officials to initiate efforts in beautifying their areas of responsibility.
He stressed the need to clean up their places and help the city in maintaining and ensuring that the street lights that have been installed are operational.
Reports said that most of the lights were often non-functional or at times the electrical wirings had been stolen by some unscrupulous individuals who sell them for profit.
"Mayroon kasing ibang mga tao na walang pakialam sa kapwa at ang tanging nasa isip ay iyong makinabang sila sa pamamagitan ng pagnanakaw," a barangay official said.
Earlier this month, the mayor launched the Rizal Avenue-Claro M. Recto Beautification Project with District III Representative Zaida Angping, barangay officials led by Chairman William Changco Lising and some businessmen, including the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce Incorporated.
Columns supporting the buildings in Sta. Cruz and Escolta were repainted with bright colors while the streets were swept and watered to clean the stench.
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