MANILA (Xinhua): With at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffering from mental, neurological and substance use disorders, Philippine Senator Sonny Angara has pushed for the development of more parks, recreational facilities and open spaces for better mental health among Filipinos, his office said Friday.
"More parks and open spaces could help people cope with mental health issues," said Angara, adding that mental health is "clearly an issue that can not and should not be ignored."
During a recent Senate hearing on the public works and highways budget, Angara called for the development of parks and recreational facilities.
Angara noted how the Department of Public Works and Highways has already completed the paving of almost all roads across the Southeast Asian country and has undertaken numerous big-ticket infrastructure projects already benefiting the people.
"We could expand the concept of public works to include the development of parks, esplanades, and other similar projects. Admittedly, space is a problem, especially with the metropolitan areas, but we can always be creative in utilizing smaller spaces," Angara said, adding that the goal is to make people less confined and encourage them to go out more, engage in physical activities, and interact with people.
In the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index for 2023, Metro Manila ranked the 136th among 173 cities, down four from the previous year's rankings.
Apart from providing residents with good health care, infrastructure, accessible and efficient public transportation, Angara argued that safe and walkable streets, lanes for non-motorized transportation, sports and recreational facilities, and access to culture and entertainment all help make local government units livable.
Angara has filed bills aimed at promoting the development of open spaces and livable communities, which seek to ensure sufficient greenery in urban and countryside areas by making it mandatory to plant trees in parks, as well as in school grounds, vacant lots, and other urbanized sites across the Philippines. - Xinhua
