PLANING 423_MODULE 04_2021-2022.pdf

PLANNING 423
Principles of Urban and Regional Planning
Arch. Ralph S. Intal 1
ralph.intal@bulsu.edu.ph
Module 04
Urban Planning in the Philippines Part 2
A rendering of New Clark, a planned city for the Philippines, BCDA Group
https://www.businessinsider.com/philippines-new-clark-city-manhattan-plans-2018-5
History of Urban Planning in The Philippines
1. Philippine Cities Today
Philippine Cities and Property Development Trends
An article by Paulo Alcazaren – March 14, 2019
• The Philippines has 81 provinces with 1,500 municipalities, and 145 cities. The
increase in cities for the past decades was because of the rapid shift from rural regions
to urban developments. Studies estimate that six out of ten Filipinos are currently living
in cities, making these relatively small areas denser and more complex.
• The primary change in the way land is developed, from small parcels to large estates,
is that they are now all mixed-use. Single-use developments are a thing of the past.
Even the traditional single-detached home subdivision will include a town center. This
will have retail and even commercial uses like small offices, if these developments front
a main road.
• The township development that was a blueprint established by the Spaniards through
the Laws of the Indies was updated to answer the evolving needs of complex cities.
What is different about these townships is that they are significantly denser, with
several medium and high-rise structures. If they are not stand-alones these new urban
cores are surrounded by low-density development.

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• The suburban township developments, although aim to become true TODs or transit-
oriented developments, are currently based on shuttle services rather than the ideal
commuter rail systems such as the MRT-7 and the extension lines of LRT-1 and MRT-
2.
• Larger developments graduate into satellite central business districts or CBDs, of
which Manila now has seven. The older CBDs of Makati, Ortigas and Cubao, are
themselves transforming with improved infrastructure and urban design, along with the
replacement of older 12- to 20-story buildings with real skyscrapers of 40 to 60 stories.
Parksquare multi-level
parking building, Makati City
https://philkotse.com/safe-
driving/list-of-cheap-parking-in-
makati-rates-opening-hours-
more-5807
• The Makati CBD pioneered this with its innovative traffic segregation and pedestrian
system that have progressed since the late 1990s. These enhancements of paid street
and multi-level parking, computerized traffic signals, elevated and underground
pedestrian systems, are meant to increase carrying capacity and address transport
issues of both vehicles and pedestrians.
V.A. Rufino underpass, Makati City.
https://steemit.com/philippines/@macoolette/undergound-ayala-avenue

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Emerald Avenue, Ortigas
https://ronxronquillo.com/blog/bike-through-taytay-ortigas-center/
• Several urban centers like Ortigas are in fact incorporating bicycle lanes. Satellite
CBDs or multi-township developments are also a trend in other metros in the country.
Metro Cebu and Metro Davao lead the way, with smaller metropolitan areas following
suit — Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Iloilo-
Guimaras, Naga, and Olongapo.
Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. https://www.cebubusinesspark.com/
• A key impetus for the dramatic change in all Philippine urban and even suburban
centers is the rise of call centers or BPOs. The nature of its 24/7 operations and the
demographic of its workforce have transformed the complexion of our cities. Our urban
centers don’t sleep anymore — they are constantly alive, fueling fast-food outlets,
convenience stores, bars, bistros and cafes, many of which never close.
• Another game changer in many of our urban centers is the evolution of student housing
in condominiums. This phenomenon can be seen in high-rise residential towers
surrounding key colleges and universities like the La Salle/Benilde/St. Scholastica
cluster in southern Manila, around the University of Santo Tomas and the University
Belt in central Manila, and the Ateneo/Miriam/UP cluster in Diliman. Smaller scale but
similar development has risen around comparable sites in other metros nationwide.

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Land banking by developers for this purpose is also on the uptick. These institutions
also serve as sources of manpower for BPOs.
• Aside or because of the growth of the economy and increasing population, another
driver for physical development is infrastructure. The government’s Build, Build, Build
initiatives are producing the transport and utilities infrastructure necessary for the
growth of metropolitan centers nationwide. What is necessary soon, however, and at
regular intervals, thereafter, is the recalibrating of development goals at the regional
level.
32-Kilometer Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge. https://www.esquiremag.ph/tag/build-build-build
• These infrastructure enhancements are huge in terms of investment and a regular
review is necessary for government planners to calibrate regional, provincial and LGU
goals. By law, these reviews are embedded in development planning processes
required for CLUPs (Comprehensive Land Use Plans). Private real estate developers
are among the key stakeholders that need to be included in the long process CLUPs
go through.
https://philippineslifest
yle.com/manila-clark-
railway-underway/

PLANNING 423
• The large investments and technical difficulties of the process of reclaiming land from
the sea are offset by the speed at which immense tracts of land can be consolidated.
Added to this is the fact that geometries of these reclaimed lands can be shaped almost
at will to achieve high yields for sellable plots. The downside of reclamation is, of
course, the even larger context of environmental impacts and this will affect
sustainability at regional and national levels.
• All the challenges to sustainable development must be addressed from both the public
and private sides of the equation. A viable planning framework for urban development
is, of course, a necessity. The Laws of the Indies cannot apply in today’s realities of
large population growth, demographic shifts, and the rapidity of urban development.
2. Challenges of Cities in the Philippines
A Decade Ago
In the assessment by the Asian Development Bank (2012), the urban sector's economic
growth is seen as being limited by: inadequate infrastructure to attract investment, lack
of incentives to promote growth in regional centers, weak capacity for local
development planning and implementation, uncoordinated government response, and
unpreparedness of local government units for natural disasters and climate change.
Moreover, there are key problems in economic and environmental infrastructure. These
are:
• Acute shortage of potable water. It is estimated that less than 50% of the urban
population have access to piped water or individual household connections,
making waterborne diseases a major public health concern.
• Inadequate sanitation coverage and poor services. Communal sewer systems are
usually absent in urban areas, storm-water drains are often used for wastewater
disposal, there is little or no treatment in existing septage collection systems, and
investment on proper wastewater treatment is seldom undertaken.
• Frequent flooding and rising flood damage. Flooding is a recurring problem and is
aggravated by uncontrolled building, informal settlements, lack of appropriate
building codes and enforcement of regulations, encroachments onto river rights-
of-way, indiscriminate dumping of solid waste, sedimentation, and the lack of
maintenance of watercourses.
• Poor solid waste disposal. About two-thirds of existing disposal sites are open
dumps and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste onto open areas and
watercourses occur.
• Inefficient urban transport. In most Philippine towns and cities, road networks are
poor. Moreover, traffic control devices, such as traffic signs, signals, and road
markings, 16 often do not conform to official standards or meet needs. Mass rail
transport system is available only in Metro Manila and there have been no
additional lines after the operation of Line 2 in 2003.
Some of the fastest-growing cities across the region are not the heavily populated
capitals, but emerging next-wave cities. The rising middle class and government

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decentralization policies are opening new business opportunities across Southeast Asia’s
satellite cities and regions.
In the Philippines, Manila is both the political and economic capital—in 2018, the regional
GDP of the Metro Manila area was nearly three times the size of the national average.
However, a study by the Asian Development Bank also ranked Metro Manila as the
most congested city out of all 278 cities in developing Asia.
One of the greatest challenges that face development is the supply side — the availability
of developable land. As cities and towns expand, the urban fringe encroaches on
agricultural, forest and conservation areas. The pressures that bear, pushing urbanization
outwards, has led to environmental impacts that result in degradation of air and water
quality, as well as quality of life indicators.
2017
Urbanization presents a great opportunity for economic growth and poverty reduction in
the country.
In the Philippines Urbanization Review: Fostering Competitive, Sustainable and Inclusive
Cities, the World Bank and the Government of the Philippines analyze three challenges
that need to be addressed if the country is to reap the benefits of urbanization:
1. Density. The growing population is not matched by key infrastructure investments.
2. Distance. Connectivity issues increase transportation cost and impede labor
mobility.
3. Division. Limited access to basic services and economic opportunities especially
among informal settlers.
The review proposes a two-pronged approach to building competitive, sustainable, and
inclusive cities:
1. In Metro Manila: address critical issues such as congestion, flooding, and slums.
2. In secondary cities: balance spatial development, increase productivity, and create
jobs.
The review presents key recommendations in four priority areas:
1. City competitiveness
• simplify tax regime and business regulations
• address infrastructure gridlock
• improve access to global markets
• strengthen economic local governance
• strengthen innovation and address skills mismatch
2. Inclusive urbanization
• Help the urban poor access formal jobs
• expand formal sector employment through reinvigoration of manufacturing sector
• close the gap in affordable housing and basic service delivery
• empower communities and involve them in development process
• strengthen institutions that underpin affordable housing especially the local
governments

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3. Urban governance and institutions
• adopt a national urban policy
• establish a lead agency for urban development
• strengthen institutions and metropolitan governance
• strengthen accountability through fiscal decentralization
4. Land administration and management
• Address growing informal settlements
• streamline institutional arrangements for land services
• develop integrated land information system
• develop a metro-wide physical planning framework
• improve property taxation and valuation
2019 The government is actively encouraging investment outside of
Metro Manila and is also developing other cities for business and
commerce. It has put together attractive incentives for companies to
invest outside the capital, particularly in economic zones. - Michael
Brennan, Head of Wholesale Banking, HSBC Philippines
• The Philippines is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest users of special zones, led by
its information technology parks, which underpin the country’s business process
outsourcing industry. But it also has manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism
economic zones. Several economic zones as the country’s main “next-wave”
cities, including Cebu in the central Philippines, which is focusing on agro-
industrial investments; and Davao in the south, which aims to attract investment
in manufacturing. This promotion of next-wave cities and regional economic zones
has seen many organizations relocate outside the capital.
3. Emerging Cities in the Philippines
ACCORDING to experts, a city may be considered “emerging” if there is potential for job
creation, a healthy workforce, and efficient land use, in addition to visionary leadership,
political will, good planning, good design, and good governance. Gateway cities such as
those with international airports and seaports also have an edge over others in terms of
trade and tourism opportunities.
By these standards, the top emerging cities outside of Metro Manila are Puerto Princesa,
Zamboanga, Clark, San Fernando (Pampanga), Laoag, Vigan, Legazpi, Balanga,
Batangas, Lucena, and Iloilo. Davao and Cebu have already far exceeded the pack and
ae almost in the same cluster as Metro Manila. Not following the mistakes of Manila, the
Davao and Cebu megalopolis should pursue better mobility through walkable and
bikeable streets with well-connected mass transport systems.
• Clark Global City – The New Center
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edzPtZ7tUZs
The New Clark, about 75 miles outside Manila, calls for drones, driverless cars,
technologies that will reduce buildings’ water and energy usage, a giant sports

PLANNING 423
complex, and plenty of green space. According to the development plan, the city will
eventually stretch 36 square miles — a land area larger than Manhattan — and house
up to 2 million people. Developers say the urban plan will prioritize environmental
sustainability and climate resilience.
References:
1. Alcazaren, P. (2019). Philippine Cities & Property Development Trends. Retrieved from:
https://propertyreport.ph/residential/2019/03/14/3326/philippine-cities-property-
development-trends
2. Garcia, L. (2018) Emerging cities in the Philippines are on the rise despite economic challenges.
Retrieved from: https://primumnilnocerefiles.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/03_plan-201-
history.pdf
3. BrandConnect. (2019). ASEAN’s next-wave cities on the rise. Retrieved from:
https://www.business.hsbc.com.ph/ph/article/asean-next-wave-cities-on-the-rise
4. Worldbank (2017) Fostering Competitive, Sustainable, and Inclusive Cities in the Philippines.
Retrieved from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/publication/fostering-
competitive-sustainable-and-inclusive-cities-in-the-philippines

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