MAYOR Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna led the inauguration Wednesday night of the newly-rehabilitated Anda Circle, complete with bright, colored lights and a dancing fountain and which is now the latest addition to the growing list of attractions in Manila.
“This will give joy and hope specially to the communities in Intramuros, Port Area, Baseco, Tondo, Delpan, San Nicolas and Binondo…ingatan ninyo, para sa inyo ito. Pahalagahan natin ang mga pagkakataon na ito kung saan nakagagawa tayo ng mga bagay na di tayo ‘tumotosgas’ ng salaping galing sa kaban,” Moreno said.
He also thanked the Asian Terminals for having sponsored the P30-million worth of fountain which is now the main attraction in the circle and went on to commend city engineer Armand Andres, city electrician Randy Sadac and department of public service chief Kenneth Amurao for the rehabilitation works done on what used to be a smelly and old-looking rotunda which had been neglected before Moreno’s assumption into office last year.
The new Anda Circle, he said, comes hand-in-hand with the plan to create a tourism and heritage train coming from Luneta and which will travel through the National Museum, Manila City Hall, Post Office, Bonifacio Shrine, Jones Bridge then end up at Anda Cicle.
“Pag nagutom sila kakalakad, tatawid lang sila ng ilog andun na sila sa Chinatown, Binondo kung saan madaming pagkain at restaurants,” Moreno said.
Meanwhile, the mayor assured that the city government will continue working for its citizens.
“Tuloy ang gobyerno habang tayo ay nakatuon sa pangangalaga ng kaligtasan ng tao at pagpapalakas ng ating health care system. We must continue to open unti-unti para maproteksyunan ang negosyo at trabaho,” Moreno said.
The said circle serves as a roundabout on Bonifacio Drive for vehicles going to and from the Port Area, Navotas, Malabon and Roxas Boulevard.
Amurao was tasked to clean up the entire area which bore ugly signs of vandalism and was filled with trash and feces courtesy of vagrants before Moreno became mayor.
Andres, on the other hand, took charge of major landscaping, restoration and repainting of the obelisk with the same color as the original and the installation of lights to illuminate the area for the benefit of motorists passing by during the night. Meanwhile, Moreno signed Ordinance 8688 banning the use of karaoke and videoke machines from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Saturday so as not to disturb those who are engaging in online classes.
The said ordinance, passed by the Manila City Council under presiding officer Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Majority Floor Leader Joel Chua, punishes violators with a P1,000 fine for the first offense, P2,000 for second offense and P3,000 for third offense or more.
