Metro Manila Explodes!

From tribal village to primate city: the making of a metropolis

Nathaniel von EinsiedelFellow, Phil. Institute of Environmental PlannersFellow, United Architects of the PhilippinesChairman, CONCEP Inc.

A metropolitan region composed of 16 cities and 1 municipality

Political, economic, social, cultural, and educational center of the Philippines

Area of 636 sq. km., less than .5 % of the total land area of the Philippines

25 kilometers from north to south and 12 kilometers from east to west

Bounded by Manila Bay on the west, Sierra Madre mountains to the east, plains of Central Luzon to the North and Laguna Bay to the South

Located along flat alluvial and deltaic lands and extends to the higher rugged lands surrounding Marikina valley in the east

Population: 11.6 million (2007 census), 13% of the Philippine population

20 million if including outer suburbs

11th most populous city in the world

Population density of 18,650 persons per sq.km.

Originally a tribal village at the mouth of the Pasig River

In 1521, Spanish came to the Philippines

Became a capital of Spanish colonial rule centered in the walled city of Intramuros

As early as 1571, the roots of an urban form were established

Walled City of Intramuros

Spanish Period (1521 – 1899) The Manila-Acapulco

galleon trade attracted many merchants and craftsmen

City spilled beyond the walls and engulfed settlements north , east, and south

Early 20th century: took the shape of what is now the city of Manila with Tondo, Binondo, Ermita, Malate, Paco and Sta. Ana serving as city core

Escolta St., Manila, 1800

American period (1899 – 1946) Plan by Daniel Burnham International port spurred

industrial growth City of Manila was

becoming congested in 1939

Pres. Quezon commissioned planning and subsequent development of lands east of Manila (now Quezon City)

Port of Manila, American Period

Traces of Burnham’s Plan

World War II

Largely demolished at the end of World War II

Burnham plan was revived but lacked support

Uncoordinated reconstruction

Post-war

Characterized by the proliferation of suburban developments northwards (Caloocan), southwards (Pasay) and eastward (Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong)

1950s – 1970s Private sector

development in Makati in the late 50s and early 60s

Infill development on open lands

Industrial and residential development intensified eastwards & southwards

By 1975, 17 distinct and separate cities and municipalities have spatially merged

1980s – 1990s Contained 50% of all large

industrial and service establishments and 45% of all medium-sized industrial and service establishments in the country

Accounted for nearly half of the industrial output of the whole country and contributed 31% of the national GDP.

Urbanized area occupied over 700 sq.km. and extended beyond its geographic-political boundaries

Population growth 1875 – 150,000 1900s – 328,939 1948 – 1.6 million 1975 – 4.9 million 1995 – 9 million 2007 – 12 million

Between 1948 and 1966 urbanized area increased by 260 percent

Metropolitan Manila Commission (MMC) Created in 1975 under Pres. Marcos Had both executive and legislative

powers over the Metropolitan Manila Area (MMA)

Mayors had advisory role MMC introduced the metro-wide land use

plan, infrastructure investments planning-programming-budgeting system, and the local development planning system

Had difficulty coping with the rapid and massive increase in population growth; by 1985 problems were the same or more severe

Metropolitan Manila Authority (MMA) Replaced the MMC after the

government-wide reorganization after end of martial law in 1986

Legislative powers were given to the Metro Manila Mayors Council

With the national economy at its worst, management of Metro Manila was practically at a standstill

As population and urbanization continued to increase, the backlog in urban services also increased and the overall quality of life in the metropolis further declined.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) During Pres. Fidel Ramos’s term Congress

passed a law abolishing the Metropolitan Manila Authority and replacing it with the MMDA which exists to this day

The law returned to the component local authorities most if not all the powers that were taken from them by the former MMC

Intervention was limited to regional planning, garbage disposal, and traffic management

How to manage growth despite… Continuing increase in

population

Increase of slum areas, backlog of urban services, further deterioration of older areas

Serious financial constraints and inadequate institutional capacity

Conflict between MMDA and local governments

Nathaniel von EinsiedelConsultants for Comprehensive Environmental Planning1856 Asuncion St. Santiago Village Makati(632) 895-1812concepinc@gmail.com