In 2021, Valenzuela City announced that it would begin the pedestrianization of Fatima Avenue in an attempt to "reconnect its people to the vitality of their surroundings." Well, the project now appears to be nearing its completion, and it looks great.
Also read: 10 Spots in Metro Manila That Are Actually Pedestrian-Friendly
Photos of the Fatima Avenue pedestrianization project shared by the official Valenzuela City Facebook page show off a clean and relatively green new public space that features picnic tables and modern light posts. Look:
When the project was first announced, architect Gerard Lico, whose office is responsible for transforming the busy thoroughfare into a pedestrian-friendly space, stressed the importance of giving streets back to the people.
"It will become a walkable street closed to motorized traffic so as to create a new character for the City of Valenzuela. Ang intention namin dito is really to bring back the street to the people," Lico said.
"Nowadays, mas binibigyan nating priority yung mga kotse; so ngayon, ibinabalik natin sa tao 'yong kalye at para maging ito ay isang vibrant element."
Elevated expressways? Sure, they're impressive on paper—but if we're talking true inclusivity, nothing beats wide-open pedestrian spaces like this.