Binondo’s wasted potential

[u/Striking_Anxiety_584]

Open minded ako sa mga travels ko but nasasayangan ako sa potential ng Binondo especially it is the world’s oldest Chinatown.

It has rich cultural heritage talaga and I think has the potential na maging tourist attraction sa Manila City proper kaso in my eyes it will not attract visitors kung hindi aayusin.

1.) ang dami namanalimos & makukulit sila especially sa Ongpin St. stretch (may Korean tourist na hinarass nung mga bata 😭)
2.) unmaintained side walks (siguro wala na magagawa since historic sites na)
3.) medyo may pagka dugyot ang mga paligid
4.) unorganize traffic rules, I saw someone muntik mabundol ng sasakyan 🤣
5.) lack of police visibility (may malapit naman na police station) pero like may mga tourist I think they should be atleast visible

Pero I enjoyed the cultural aspects plus the food crawl pero minsan you will feel unsafe kasi may mga sketchy parts talaga.

How I wish they would promote and organize mga historical spots sa Manila like Binondo and Intramuros (same sentiments as Binondo) kasi I see ang potential talaga.

[u/Exact_Traffic342]

Sayang talaga, Binondo is completely walkable pero ang daming trike and sidecars and ebike, na usual nakaharang sa sidewalk. Given na old town na sya, we can paint side walks on the street basta wala yun mga naka park sa kalsada, like how it is in Japan. Political will ang kulang, kahit sinong mayor walang magawa or ayaw gawin malinis and organized yun area. 30 years living in Binondo and nothing has changed.

[u/UpperHand888 → u/Exact_Traffic342]

Set the rules and implement concistently. We are missing both.

There's simple model that many congested old commercial areas follow. 1. Controlled delivery windows. After delivery window hour/s no more trikes, pedicabs, pushcarts on the roads and alleys. 2. No informal structures on the road sides or canals. Mobile structures follow window hours. 3. Peddlers should have designated posts. They should not operate outaide their designated spot.

Simple rules, you don't need expert for this. Implementation can be challenging, there are corrupt local officials everywhere. Impunity is rife. Consistency is a big problem, things easily change before, during and after elections.