The city government of Manila and the private sector should pool their resources together and spearhead an urban renewal program for Manila’s downtown area: Escolta, Avenida Rizal and Quezon Boulevard.
As Manila’s central business district, downtown Manila should be spruced up to wash off the place’s “ugliness” and to free its sidewalks of ambulant vendors, street dwellers, mendicants, prostitutes, etc. in order to make it appealing and conducive, once again, to shoppers and strollers, alike.
The redevelopment and improvement of these areas would certainly take time, but it’s worth the wait. Imagine the end-product, which could spell greater income for the city’s coffers, and an influx of more local and foreign tourists as well.
If Chinatown could make it, why not downtown Manila with iconic Escolta as a “pilot” project?
—PEDRO V. REFUERZO JR., jn_refuerzo@yahoo.com