# Makati Park and Garden

14°33′54″N 121°3′21″E﻿ / ﻿14.56500°N 121.05583°E﻿ / 14.56500; 121.05583
The Makati Park and Garden, sometimes called Fort Bonifacio Riverside Park and Liwasang Bonifacio (transl. Bonifacio Park) by local residents, is an urban riverfront park along the south bank of the Pasig River in Taguig, Philippines. As early as 1994, the city of Makati fully geared towards the implementation of its projects for the public, engaged with the services of an architectural firm to design the Liwasang Bonifacio. It was then in 1995 when the construction started until its completion in 1998. The park has an area of 35,433 square meters (381,400 sq ft) and its administration was assigned to the Department of Environmental Services who is responsible for the maintenance of the park. The park is open to the public and is designated by the city government of Makati as a safe place for students. In the aftermath of the 2021 Supreme Court decision, which was decided in favor of the City of Taguig gaining jurisdiction of Fort Bonifacio and the Embo barangays, ownership and management of the park has been disputed between the cities of Makati and Taguig. Subsequently, the City of Taguig issued a closure order citing the lack of permits to operate.

## Description

The Makati Park and Garden is located in barangays West Rembo and Cembo, just east of Guadalupe Nuevo and north of Bonifacio Global City. It is bordered by J.P. Rizal Avenue to the south, the Makati Aqua Sports Arena to the east, and the Rizal Riverwalk and Lawton Avenue to the west. The University of Makati main campus, Fort Bonifacio Elementary and High School, the Ermita de San Nicolas de Tolentino and Makati City Jail are located just across the street from the park. The park is designed in 1994 after the Makati City Government commissioned an architectural firm for the project. It was then in 1995 when the construction began and the park was opened to the public in 1998. It is also a bird sanctuary and one of five plant nurseries in Makati. This is one of the places available to visit when you want to unwind amidst the bustling air in the metropolis. The park is well-maintained, secure, and a haven of comfort for all.
A prominent feature of the park is the monument to Andrés Bonifacio located on the western side near the parking area. The monument, designed by Filipino sculptor Juan Sajid Imao, son of National Artist Abdulmari Imao, was erected in 1997 to commemorate Bonifacio's death centennial. The park also features a small lake, fountains, a man-made waterfall, an aviary, amphiteater, pavilion, and gazebos, including a floating octagonal gazebo. The park's Artist Pavilion serves as a function hall and is a favorite venue for social activities and receptions such as wedding and birthdays. A pedestrian trail known as the Rizal Riverwalk extends along the Pasig River for approximately 1 kilometer (0.62 mi) from the Makati Park and Garden to the Guadalupe Ferry Station near EDSA. The Makati Aqua Sports Arena is a popular recreational facility located on the park's eastern side. It contains two swimming pools, one of which is Olympic-sized, built in 2006 at a cost of ₱12 million. The arena is open from Tuesdays to Sundays and charges an entrance fee. Such fees for swimming pool facility are as follows: Php 50 for residents and students, and Php 150 for non-residents. The Makati Park also charges fees for use of the Artist Pavilion.
In November 2017, the Bonifacio monument at the park was dismantled by the Department of Public Works and Highways to make way for the construction of Santa Monica–Lawton Bridge, which would link Bonifacio Global City with Ortigas Center.

## Ownership dispute

In 2022, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that Makati should stop exercising jurisdiction over West Rembo and Cembo, where the Makati Park and Garden is located, effectively placing the park in Taguig. However, the city government of Makati maintains that high court decision did not equate to automatically ceding the park's control to Taguig and that Makati still owns the property associated with the park despite the park now situated within the territory of Taguig.
Personnel from the Taguig Traffic Management Office (TMO) attempted to enter the park on March 1, 2024, which were prevented from doing so by the Makati security personnel. On March 3, 2024, the Taguig city government closed the park, citing lack of permits. The City Government of Taguig also stated that “The said park and garden, which has been effectively closed as a park by Makati and used as garage for its heavy equipment and storage for various objects, is subject to Taguig’s jurisdiction which has the right to possess and administer the same notwithstanding Makati’s unlawful possession.”
The City of Makati insist that it does not need to pay permit or pay taxes for the park to Taguig. Citing Presidential Proclamation No. 1916 of 2009, Makati states that local government unit owned assets are exempted from taxes and that Taguig's insistence of requiring Makati permit is an "admittance" of Makati's ownership of the park.