Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada vowed to speed up the redevelopment of Binondo, the world’s oldest Chinatown, during his Chinese New Year countdown speech at Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz.
Estrada told the members of the Filipino-Chinese community he will spend his last years in office improving the old Chinese enclave and hub of commerce.
Estrada said Binondo is one of the priority areas of the his administration’s Urban Renewal Program aimed at reviving Manila’s “old beauty and glory.”
“We will continue to undertake massive cleanup and rehabilitation here in Binondo para lahat ng mga turista ay makapunta dito at makapagbigay ng hanapbuhay,” said Estrada. “Kaya itong Binondo, pinagmamalaki natin, ito ang ating aayusin.”
By next month, he said the city government will be introducing electric tricycles or E-trikes in the streets of Binondo to further attract local and foreign tourists and boost local businesses. (Jaimie Rose R. Aberia)