A bold urban renewal proposal from Pasig City has earned global recognition and a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, placing the city among 24 winners in the 2025–2026 Mayors Challenge. The city stood out from more than 630 applicants worldwide, with 25 Philippine cities joining the competition. Pasig ultimately secured a spot on the global winners’ list. Naga City and Cauayan City were also among the Philippine entries that advanced to the top 50 finalists.
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According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, the 24 winners were selected after 50 finalist cities tested live prototypes with residents. Evaluation focused on originality, projected impact, and the strength of implementation strategies.
Aparna Ramanan, who heads the Mayors Challenge under the Government Innovation program of Bloomberg Philanthropies, emphasized that Pasig’s approach centered on collaboration with its communities.
The award supports Pasig’s plan to develop floating parks along flood-prone waterways, an initiative that blends climate resilience, public space creation, and community participation.
“Pasig isn’t just designing a solution for residents—it is building one with them,” Ramanan said. “By turning flood-prone waterways into floating parks, the city’s Mayors Challenge-winning program will, yes, reduce river overflow, but also create public spaces shaped by the people who live beside them,” she added.
She noted that such partnerships enable local governments to deliver measurable outcomes while strengthening public trust, and expressed optimism about supporting Pasig and sharing its model with other cities.
Mayor Vico Sotto explained that the grant provides the city an opportunity to rethink how flood-prone areas can serve communities beyond their risks.
“Through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, Pasig will confront the lack of open, usable spaces along flood-prone waterways not just as a problem of design, but also as an opportunity to mobilize the residents to implement a solution,” Sotto said. “As a winner, we will have an engine of support to co-design floating parks with residents along our historical river. In doing so, we hope to reclaim green space and transform high-risk corridors into safe public places that foster civic engagement and reconnect with our heritage.”
From Prototype to Permanent Parks
Before winning the top prize, Pasig received $50,000 and technical backing during the finalist stage to pilot “Hope Floats,” a working prototype built on a retrofitted barge. The initiative allowed residents to step aboard and directly contribute ideas to the project’s design.
Children submitted playground sketches, while adults suggested features such as karaoke spaces, decorative lighting, exercise zones, and night markets. The feedback enabled city engineers and planners to evaluate structural, safety, and regulatory considerations along the Pasig River.
The full proposal envisions a network of floating parks spanning about 700 square meters. Plans include modular circular platforms and a converted barge capable of accommodating up to 250 people. Environmental features will be embedded into the design, including wetlands for water filtration and retention systems aimed at reducing river overflow. A resident-led Parks Governance Council will also be established to help oversee operations and programming.
Beyond the $1 million grant, Pasig will receive operational assistance and additional funding for dedicated personnel to expand and institutionalize the project.
Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P. and former mayor of New York City, said the Mayors Challenge was created to empower forward-thinking city governments to tackle public service challenges and scale transformative ideas.
In the months ahead, Pasig plans to finalize architectural designs, begin construction of floating parks and riverside easements, continue consultations to form the Governance Council for Parks, and coordinate with private sector partners and national agencies for compliance and technical requirements.
The project represents more than an award; it signals how local governments can transform flood risks into shared community assets. By combining climate adaptation, green space creation, and citizen participation, Pasig’s initiative offers a replicable model for urban areas across the country seeking safer waterways, more public spaces, and stronger civic engagement.
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