Cagayan de Oro City has taken a significant step forward in its environmental efforts by launching Phases 2 and 3 of Project Lunhaw. The groundbreaking ceremony, led by Mayor Rolando Uy, marked the beginning of these new stages of the eco-friendly project aimed at rejuvenating the city’s downtown area. The ceremony included the symbolic act of laying a time capsule, signifying the commitment to the project’s future.
The focus of these new phases will be on the redevelopment of key historical sites, such as El Pueblo A Sus Heroes Park and the JR Borja Street-Kiosko Kagawasan area, known locally as Plaza Divisoria. Mayor Uy emphasized the city’s dedication to environmental conservation, particularly in preserving the city’s mahogany trees, which he noted are crucial for providing shade.
Project Lunhaw, which translates to ‘green’ in the local language, was initiated in 2017 under the United Nations Habitat’s Building Climate Resilience through Urban Plans and Designs Project. It adopts a comprehensive ‘ridge-to-reef’ strategy to address environmental challenges from the uplands to the coastal regions. The first phase of the project, which started in 2020, integrated green and blue infrastructure to mitigate climate risks faced by the city.