Apart from tending to the needs of Manileños, Horizon Manila is taking into consideration the environment within and surrounding it.
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On top of the 30 hectares of public parks that will be provided within Horizon Manila, the developers will also impose a green-plot ratio of 1:1. That is, all lot developers will have to provide green spaces as big as their lot size. If you have a lot area of 1,000 sqm, you will be required to provide 1,000 sqm of green space within your development. This could be through a greenwall, a roof deck garden, lobby garden, or anywhere else that may be feasible.
Legaspi also took into consideration the marine elements that might be affected by the construction. ““The project conducted detailed environmental studies throughout its ECC application process. It was found that within the site of Horizon Manila’s 419 hectares, there is nothing but dirt, silt, and garbage on the seafloor with no existing marine or aquatic life. Similarly, the project coordinated and secured a clearance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources signifying that there are no fisherfolk in the area,” Legaspi clarified. As for the possibility of storms coming in from the farther end of the bay, mangroves and perforated concrete wave breakers will ensure the safety of Horizon Manila and its residents while providing a natural, biological shoreline.
A CITY BUILT ON VALUES
A reclamation project as colossal as this requires keen attention to details, and a lengthy, complicated series of steps to assure its viability. For someone who doesn’t have any political ties nor connections to government offices, Legaspi and his team got everything done through persistence, from securing the studies to the approval of documents. “While other reclamation project proponents usually send big teams to meetings regarding permits and clearances, ours usually just comprised myself, a lawyer, and an administrative assistant. This allowed us to be agile and flexible throughout the permitting process. If any changes were required, the discussion was only among three people, and one of them is already the decision-maker,” he recalls..
Even with these factors seemingly against them, Legaspi and his team successfully accomplished every step with no setbacks. “The entire permitting process took three years, inclusive of all studies. Fortunately for us, this government body has strict anti-red tape policies. Each step is well- defined and the evaluation period is defined as well. Even without connections, as long as your papers, documents, and studies are done in accordance with specified standards, the process will move all the same for you. But, since we did not have connections or ties with powerful people, we had to make sure that all our studies, documents, and papers were impeccable.”
GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HORIZON
Away from the dioramas, blueprints, master plans, and engineering calculations, Legaspi sheds his formidable stance and slips into a warm persona. He admits he has a soft spot for furry friends, and is even an animal rescuer himself
His first rescue pet is a dog named Teemo, a lovable puppy that was wandering their rented warehouse in Laguna. “One of our managers was conducting an inspection in our warehouse. He took a video of this inspection and was pleasantly surprised that there were stray dogs around the warehouse.
I saw this video and asked him to try and bring home the puppies. He was able to bring one of them, and that’s how my passion for rescuing started,” he reminisces. “I have always been an animal lover, and my family has always had pets. It pains me to see dogs and cats suffering on the street because they literally have no way of taking care of themselves.”
This side of Legaspi is a rare sight to see, especially now that he’s busy constructing what would be one of his greatest achievements in life. But it’s no surprise that rescuing animals also inspired him with another goal. “After the reclamation works and horizontal development have concluded, and the land is ready for vertical construction, Horizon Manila will require less of my time.
The goal is for the shelter to never have to turn away any animal, or pet-owner in need, which is why an income-generating aspect is crucial. Perhaps it can be tied to a health and wellness resort. But instead of having fowl and poultry running around, it will be stray dogs. And the proceeds from this resort will be used to fully finance the shelter’s operations,” he says thoughtfully.
Horizon Manila is just beginning to come to life. It will take two decades for this new slice of paradise to become fully constructed, but we’re already seeing light looming on the skyline.
Read more about how JR Legaspi is talking hold of the future of Manila in MEGA Man’s July 2021 issue available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio
Photography KIERAN PUNAY of STUDIO 100
Art direction MARC YELLOW and GARI RIVERA
Grooming ARJAY ZURITA
Styling PAUL SESE
Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA and LOUIS ESGUERRA
Shot on location PASEO PALISOC, CCP
Special thanks to SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA MANILA
The post Hope Is On The Rise: Here’s What To Expect From Horizon Manila appeared first on MEGA.
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