A research team from the New York University has called on the city of Davao “to invest in open spaces (parks, play grounds, sports fields, public green areas” for the health and well-being of its residents.
The call was issued through the research team’s head, Patrick Lamson-Hall, in a brief speech at the Sangguniang Panglungsod session hall on Tuesday.
Hall was introduced by Councilor Pilar Baga, chair of the committee on education.
Hall’s presence was facilitated by Chinkie Pelino-Golle, executive director of the Davao City-based Interface Development Interventions,Inc. (IDIS).
Hall’s his research team in coordination with IDIS has conducted a pilot study regarding to the status and quality of public open spaces in Davao City, a study that sought to help the United Nations come up with its Sustainable Development Goals.
Davao City is one the only three cities that had been chosen worldwide for the study. As explained, the City can benefit from the result of the study by getting insights on how reconcile it with its Comprehensive Land Use Planning (CLUP) and on establishing green spaces.
“Davao City needs to invest in open spaces such as parks, play grounds, sports field, and public green areas if it wants to provide an ideal place for its citizens to raise children and to grow old,” he said.
He said that opening public open spaces is vital to the health and well being of the residents.
Davao City, explained Hall, has a bigger room for development in spite of its continuous growth, which why it has been one of the chosen cities. With this, the City government is still in its best shape and can be directed to better developments in a way that the City can provide a more viable and beneficial place for its citizens to live in.
“The quality and accessibility of public parks and open spaces are important investments for the city government in raising children and taking care of the old,” he added.
The volunteers from City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), City Planning Office, Sustainable Davao Movement and volunteer students from different Colleges and Universities had helped the research group of its data gathering, which the result will be available on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at Apo View Hotel.
