Reclamation of foreshore areas is gaining world recognition as a port development and environment solution.
The recognition comes, not only for the prime real estate being created by reclamation for much-needed port infrastructure and operations, but also for the technologies that address marine degradation from siltation, flooding, and environment pollution.
Precisely for that reason, the world’s organization of the real estate industry recently honored port developer Reghis M. Romero, naming him Outstanding Port Operator.
The award was conferred on Romero by president Farook Mahmood of the Federation Internationale des Administrateurs de Biens Conseilset Agents Immobiliers, or FIABCI, the Paris-based international real estate federation.
With more than 3,000 members in 65 countries, FIABCI holds a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and has provided the UN-Habitat with an online tool for the qualitative aspect of the City Prosperity Index (CPI) in measuring and evaluating urban development.
The UN-Habitat promotes and develops socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and adequate shelter for all.
This program stems from a UN projection that six out of every 10 people will reside in urban areas by 2030, thus confronting cities with unprecedented demographic, environmental, economic, social and spatial challenges.
Over 90 per cent of that growth is expected to take place in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia, including the Philippines, and the consequences can be dramatic.—CONTRIBUTED