A project centered on the Pasig River has placed the city among this year’s globally recognized urban innovators. Pasig City secured a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies after its floating parks proposal won the 2025–2026 Mayors Challenge.
The recognition was announced during Bloomberg CityLab 2026 in Madrid, Spain, where more than 100 mayors gathered to discuss urban governance and emerging city challenges. Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto joined sessions focused on innovation and river redevelopment, including the summit’s “Reimagining Rivers” panel.
The initiative seeks to convert underused river spaces into accessible public parks while reconnecting residents with the Pasig River through community-designed developments. City officials also plan to directly involve residents in shaping and managing the future spaces.
Pasig emerged as the only Philippine local government unit included among the 24 winning cities worldwide. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge recognizes local governments that present scalable solutions involving public services, climate resilience, mobility and urban access.
The project centers on creating floating and river-adjacent parks using barges and redesigned waterfront areas. City officials said the proposal addresses Pasig’s lack of open and green public spaces in densely populated communities.
Pasig’s concept also emphasizes participatory governance, allowing residents to help design and co-manage the planned developments. Urban planning groups have identified similar initiatives as part of a broader global shift toward community-designed infrastructure.
The city government began prototyping the floating parks concept in September 2025 after receiving an earlier $50,000 support grant during the proposal stage. Along with the $1 million funding, Pasig will also receive technical assistance and implementation support for the project’s larger rollout phases.
