Specifically, the city seeks to make itself

• A place for living
• A place for work and business
• A place for history
• A place for socializing
• A place for entertainment
• A place for arts, culture, tourism and sports
• A place for education
• A place for religion

While programs and strategies are multifarious and encompassing, they are basically poverty-focused. Eradication of poverty is, thus, the focal point of everything that the city sets out to do in the long term.

BASIC ELEMENTS

Marikina takes an integrated approach in pursuit of its vision. This includes the following:

• Ensuring good access between and among different areas of the city.

It is said that the key word in urban governance is access. Access to work, residence, transportation system, recreation centers and others.

• Defining Space

Land uses are reasonable and clearly defined to allow judicious, practical and maximum use of the city's limited land resource. This has been addressed in the city's newly approved Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

• Making memorable spaces

There are areas identified, designated or maintained as areas of identity. This includes cultural and historical zone, Dutch Olandes, among others.

• Using the city's physical setting to its best advantage. Marikina is strategically located - - it is in the heart of Metro Manila and a gateway to Rizal. These are some of its strategic advantages which the city uses to the hilt.

KEY PROGRAMS

1. More Access

There shall be new roads and transport facilities for greater citywide mobility and accessibility.

A network of bikelanes -- which shall connect schools, factories and government institutions have already started, thanks to the financial grant of the World Bank. Once fully operational, we expect a great number of commuting public moving around the city on bicycles.

Mobility of people and business shall be further enhanced by the construction of the Metro Manila Urban Transport Integration Project (MMUTRIP). This shall involve street-level interchange for buses, jeepneys and LRT lines. It shall primarily improve transport access in outer areas east of Marikina.

2. More choices for playground and recreation

There shall be more playgrounds, green spaces and recreational centers all over the city to provide people relief from the dense of urban living. More recreational and sports activities where people can participate in are being introduced.

3. Distinctive historical and Heritage Zone

While continuing to cast an eye to the future, the city also realizes the need to preserve its rich architectural and cultural heritage. There are buildings identified for conservation. Character and ambiance of historic buildings shall be enhanced while retaining their spatial quality.

4. Greening the City

Greening is not just planting trees. It is about planting the correct trees - - strategically positioned shrubs, trees and flowers to soften and add color to our surroundings. Lush greenery shall provide natural barrier between pedestrians and traffic as well as shield people from sun and dust and, thus make walking pleasurable. The city shall continue without let-up its tree planting program at an average of 10,000 trees a year.

5. A City that Works

Our vision is not only a city of beauty and character, but also a city that works.

As our economy provides the engine to raise our quality of life, we shall take a pro-active role in creating the right environment for a thriving business hub that can hold its own in the global playing field. As jobs are provided closer to homes, Marikina shall no longer be known as a "bedroom community".

6. Transforming Marikina River into a Vibrant Waterway

Water has influenced the growth of many great cities in the world such as Hongkong, Jakarta, Bangkok and Singapore. Because water offers many opportunities to people, it has to be considered by the city. We shall ride on the crest of rehabilitating the Marikina River. Like Singapore's Clarke Quay it shall become Marikina's number one signature image -- a picturesque place for sports, leisure and entertainment.

7. A Wholesome Environment for Living

Efforts are being made to create a more livable environment for all. No new squatters shall be welcomed. Accessibility in and around the city including health facilities shall make it more comfortable for the local residents.

8. A Center for Arts, Culture, Sports and Tourism in the Eastern Metropolitan and Rizal

Arts and cultural enthusiasts can look forward to new venues for arts and cultural exhibitions. Teatro Marikina (theatre arts) is aimed to become the center for those exciting and educational events. Staging of organized non-motorized water activities like rowing, shall be encouraged in the Marikina River. Cultural activities peculiar to Marikina such as Angkan-Angkan and Rehiyon-Rehiyon and host of other exciting activities shall create magnet for tourists.

9. Knowledge Center

We encourage the establishment of more learning institutions which academic concentration is on Information Technology and computer-related courses. The proliferation of these institutions shall create a new identity for the city -- A knowledge Center in the Metropolis.

10. E-Government

We undertake to upgrade government operations through the application of electronic system of operation (Information Technology). When this technology is in place, people can transact business with the government via computers.

Marikina : “A Little Singapore”, bustling in holistic progress, a vibrant community where the citizens have pride of place, pride of self and mutual concern for the common good

Marikina has chosen Singapore as its benchmark for a variety of reasons, foremost of which are its noteworthy attributes of:

• DISCIPLINE
• SELF-SUFFICIENCY
• EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE
• WORK ETHICS
• ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDNESS
• ECONOMIC DYNAMISM, and a
• CORRUPT-FREE GOVERNMENT