the current failure of urban planning and design in Cagayan de Oro

1. Ciara Mary B. Cansancio
ARCH_3C
ARCH332 – PLANNING 2
Fundamentals of Urban Design and Community Architecture
REFLECTION PAPER
In this present day, Urban design is defined as integrating the processes and expertise of many related
disciplines including art, architecture, landscaping, the social sciences,economic, planning, engineering and
transport.It handles the masterplan of a large area but its design it influenced by a lot of factors. In this field, the
measurement of success ofthe plan is determined by the public rather than the academia. If its design improves the
overall development of a city, improves its traffic, lessens the crime rate and has a good impact on the overall well-
being of its citizens this means that the planners of the city carefully evaluated its design hence executing a well
thought out masterplan of the city.
After learning this,I became aware of this city’s unorganized planning. To be fair, they are still uninformed
of the value this field can offer and I do see their efforts upon realization. Slowly but surely, they are now appointing
architects in the city’s planning department.
Urban planning doesn’t only impact its economy and citizens it also strengthens the area’s identity as well
as its sense of place. It also plays a role in the clarity of public transportation and routes and the designs of sidewalks
and pedestrian.The place notable for me because of its simple to understand public transportation was Singapore.
We went there as part of our tours subject in fourth year. I was exposed to its excellent planning and I can’t help but
compare it to my home town. Going from place to place was easy and fast. Everything there was orderly especially
their organization of economic zones. As I walked its streets,I noticed the absences electric pole wires as opposed to
our messy electric wire posts.Their process of waste collection also contributed to Singapore being the cleanest city
in the world. For me it was a well-organized city. I could really feel the city’s rapid growth and development
reflected in its buildings. I took some points hoping that maybe in the future I can implement this if given a chance
to work in the city planning sector.
Spaghetti wires sighted at Velez St.
Being a local in CDO, it is obvious that the heavy traffic affects a decrease in productivity. The first thing
that comes up to me would be implementing subway stations.Since its construction is mostly underground it creates
less disruption as compared to its natural ground level counterpart.In addition, because it’s the first of its kind, its
planning wouldn’t be so difficult since it has less factors to consider. If ever this was adapted there would be an
obvious improvement in the city’s traffic congestion.It could also drastically reduce travel time, like going to Davao
from CDO would only take an hour or so.

2. Some improvements should also be made especially in the Divisoria area. Its intelligence-challenged
placement of pedestrians sticks out like a sore thumb to the architects. It is also known for its lack of parking spaces
and difficult vehicular routes.
This pedestrian lane is at the corner of Tirso Neri and Pabayo Streets in the Divisoria area where pedestrians will
have to jump to cross the street.
Speaking of preserving a city’s identity, I still lament for the demolition of the so called “Cinderella house”
located along the Capistrano Street. It is important to preserve these kinds of structures since these ancestral
houses provide the current generation a look back of the country's colonial past through these old houses.It could
also provide great architectural references of pasts designs as well as studying their influences that conclude that
said design.It could also contribute additional information in the city’s history and tourism. It could even be a great
place for photoshootsorfilm shooting. For me, it could have been an important structure worthy of preservation but
sadly the local government did not deem value to its worth and was replaced with a generic contemporary designed
building.
Cinderella house along Capistrano Street
I do hope that the authorities would make urban planning top priority in cities. With it, we can foresee
future problems and find solutions to prevent.It just doesn’t only uplift the city’s economy and citizens it could also
be a tool for effective conservation of the environment.

3. UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
Department of Architecture
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Arch322 – Planning 2:
FUNDAMENTALS OF URBAN DESIGN AND COMMUNITY ARCHITECTURE
2nd Semester, AY 2021-2022
WEEKLY LEARNER’S LOG
Name of Learner/Student: Ciara Mary B. Cansancio Week: 1
Topic/s: Introduction to Planning 2
Complete briefly and honestly each statement in relation to this week’s lesson/topic
I used to think that______________________________.
Now I know that _______________________________.
However, I am not sure __________________________.
I hope/plan to __________________________________.
Overall, I feel __________________________________,
because ______________________________________