PLN:

Paris- Manila Urban Development Project

The Paris- Manila Urban Development Project of the Students includes: construction of wide roads, footpaths and street lighting; provision of community facilities, including educational facilities and community centers replacing old abandoned buildings; provision of new industrial/commercial sites, of mixed commercial/residential land along Malate; road construction in Quiapo; construction of Parks and open spaces replacing the empty warehouses and Factories along the River Pasig. Transfer of Sta Ana Ports to Batangas Ports 'To just right things would probably take a generation using all the government clout and political will available.' Manila does not have enough "infrastructure in the form of bridges, highways, wider streets to handle the amount of traffic that needs to be borne. There is not enough efficient public mass transport to keep time schedules reasonable in the matter of going back and forth on business, pleasure or emergencies. Then there is the appalling housing consisting of a singular lack of affordable homes for the largest number of the population. But somehow or other, when the opportunity to implement the plans came after the massive destruction of Manila, and with the availability of the wide open spaces of Quezon City, the government that envisioned the cities, made the plans and allocated the land area but failed to move forward and make them a reality. Today Metro Manila is an urban problem that is virtually unsolvable under present dispensations of law and custom. To just right things or rather, eliminate the wrong things would probably take a generation using all the government clout and political will that is available." The only open space we have in the Metro are the big boxy type building called malls. Who would want to go to park where it s hot and noisy. Some Parks here are not even maintained, the trees and plants are not cut, groomed and its not clean at all (not pertaining to all the parks). In Makati especially along Sta. Ana Ports there are many empty warehouses and abandoned factories around the Pasig river which we can transform into parks and open spaces for the Pubic. How will the people around the other area of the river access the parks? They planned to build a footbridge where people can walk and stroll. It s a very good plan indeed. Cargo ports activities will be minimized within the Metro when the ports and other warehouses will be tranfered to Batangas warehouse Ports. The container Vans around the City are not only annoying to drivers and people but also dangerous especially to a busy Metropolitan, Not to mention the traffic it because when they re driving the streets. How did they think of that? How did 7 students of Paris think of that and the Government of the Philippines didn t? China has a significant share of the world s most productive urban regions; the largest is HKShenzenGuangzhou region in the PRD, which accounts for 120 million people. Philippine urban regions, in their own smaller scale setting, are following the same trend. Instead of being subjected to anti-urban bias, this trend needs to be recognized as an opportunity to enhance much needed economic growth in the Philippines, and consequently, supported by specific policies and projects. In addition to fostering growth, these policies and projects should also address environmental and other sustainability concerns.

PLN

GASCON, BERLIN GAILE P.

MARCH 2, 2011