UST College of Architecture faculty member Ar. Felicisimo A. Tejuco, Jr., presented his paper that will uplift the sidewalks of España Boulevard, and even include it in a tourism trail to promote tourism while encouraging walking.
Tejuco, a fellow of the UST Research Center for Culture Arts and Humanities (RCCAH) Ar. Felicisimo A. Tejuco, Jr., presented his paper during the 57th International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) World Planning Congress held from November 8 to 11, 2021, in Doha, Qatar, through a hybrid format.
With the theme “Planning Unlocked,” the international event focused on unlocking what planning is and may become. Under the track “Smartness and development. Al-Souq: Innovating for performance and management,” Tejuco shared how public and private participation can contribute to better management of streets.
In his paper, “Revitalizing the Sidewalks of España Boulevard (from Welcome Rotunda to Lerma/Morayta) through a Street Management Plan vis-à-vis Community Empowerment,” Tejuco noted that the two-kilometer España Boulevard is a major artery connecting the City of Manila through other cities in the National Capital Region. Although it is valued by the community for its accessibility to basic services and public transportation, common concerns include congestion, climate change, and criminality.
Since 2016, Tejuco has been looking into the state and problems of España Blvd., the area being studied. He has conducted workshops, consultations, and presentations with community leaders, local government officials, and experts.
Aside from suggesting the continuous maintenance of the streets and sidewalks through community empowerment and participation, Tejuco’s paper recommended the integration of heritage sites like the University of Santo Tomas and the Far Eastern University in a tourism trail to promote tourism while encouraging walking.
The research paper was funded and fully supported through the UST-RCCAH under the Office of the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation. It was also awarded a travel grant through the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Founded in 1965, the ISOCARP, which organized the Congress, is a global association of professional city and regional planners, and Tejuco is one of its lifetime members. It has 700 experienced professionals from more than 90 countries worldwide.
