Hello daily! Kumusta ka na? It's been a jam-packed year for Make Manila Liveable! Ever since we launched the campaign early this year, it has already been a roller coaster ride given the variety of issues that arose. From featuring human interest stories in schools, heritage sites, and barangays – to tackling policies concerning commuters' rights and people-friendly streets – we can definitely say that our efforts are coming together one step at a time! As we close off 2024, we want to make this opportunity to thank you for supporting Make Manila Liveable and helping us grow a community of advocates. To look back on what we achieved together, here are some highlights you can check: UPDATES FROM RECENT EFFORTS - Quezon City soft-launches car-free Tomas Morato Sundays on December 8: The car-free period will be from 5 am to 10 am, with parking areas and rerouting schemes identified by the Quezon City government. The proposed ordinance took into account public sentiment gathered with the help of an AI-powered public consultation in partnership with Rappler.
STORIES - QC Public Library offers books for children with visual impairment: These books go beyond simple translations of original texts — they also provide detailed descriptions of visual elements within the stories.
- Salcedo, Makati residents call for single entry-exit point at night to curb rising crime: In response to rising theft and robbery cases, Salcedo residents are calling for the implementation of a single entry-and-exit point from 10 pm to 4 am.
- How Malabon waste workers keep afloat the sinking city: Due to the glaring waste problem in Malabon, the Malabon-Navotas Waste Workers' Association began a community initiative to save the city from eventual submergence.
- MMDA holds summit in hopes of addressing Metro Manila's garbage problem: The MMDA's 'Road to Zero Waste' Summit featured ideas and innovations on reducing garbage that end up in landfills or contribute to flooding. But how will these ideas be integrated into a larger solid waste management plan?
- Can the Pasig River Ferry Service ease transport woes?: As Metro Manila commuters seek alternative transportation that could alleviate these woes, the revival of the Pasig River ferry seemed to offer a glimmer of hope.
- A foundation is funding climate-resilient Quezon City schoolyards. Students got to design it: How can we make schools more prepared for floods and heatwaves? A project piloted in Quezon City seeks to find out by asking students and teachers to help design their own schoolyards.
- How Quezon City, Muntinlupa, and Isabela City make urban areas liveable: At the Social Good Summit on October 19, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, and Isabela City Mayor Sitti Hataman shared their efforts to build vibrant and sustainable communities. Watch the full video here.
- 'Dapat all': Advocates push for community-centered spaces at Social Good Summit 2024: Participants of the Social Good Summit came together in a session, to imagine and conceptualize their ideal, climate-resilient neighborhood.
- Maginhawa Street's colorful experiment to bring back 'people-centered' spaces: Over 120 volunteers help paint pedestrian crosswalks, bike lanes, and parklets in an initiative backed by the Quezon City government.
VIDEOS Start the year right and join these initiatives led by our communities in 2025: EVENTS - Join the Hack-A Street Challenge Planning for better sidewalks: Mobility Awards is calling youth innovators to join their hackathon challenge in helping develop creative solutions for planning safer and more inclusive streets. This is set to happen from January 17 to 18, 2025, in Quezon City. Register here.
- Be part of the Southeast Asia Mobility Awards: Clean Mobility Collective Southeast Asia invites you to share how you move around your city using bikes or public transport! Capture your experience in a 1-3 min video and submit them on or before April 22, 2025 (Earth Day). Cash prizes will be given to select winners!
ELECTIONS PUSH FOR LIVEABILITY With January 2025 being the start of the election period, expect MML to go all-out in pushing for improved quality of life in our cities. We are already cooking up some major plans involving local candidates and communities who think liveability should be a key election issue. If you want your organization to be part of this, you can be an MML member. Email move.ph@rappler.com if you're interested. You can learn more about MML and its partners here.
Make Manila Liveable, MovePH
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