Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Philippine Planning Journal Urban Design
Philippine Planning Journal Urban Design
41 Intramuros Redevelopment
-Federico B. Silao
- Victoria A. Eugenio
47 Planning News
•Project Design
open space-a Central Park which is distinct bUilding clusters are thus formed-
intended to provide a scenic view of the pro- the Batasang Pambansa Complex and the
posed monument, the Batasang Pambansa, two building clusters for the constitutional
and other bUildings clustered around the bodies.
area. The Batasang Pamli>ansa BuiJding is the
The Constitutional Hill site will be made focal point of the National Government cen-
accessible to other surrounding areas by ter, and its prominence is achieved by
means of efficient road arteries. On the making it the tallest structure within the
north, it will be linked to Novallches, on the center. On both sides are the constitutional
east to Mariklna Valley with its potential bodies-the Supreme Court and COMELEC
residential areas, on the south to Manila's on the.north, and the Commission on Audit
commercial, financial and cultural centers, and Civil Service Commission on the South.
and on the west to Bulacan's industrial land The grouping Is based on the analysis of the
residential areas.The proposed C·4,C·5,and functional relationships existing among the
C·6 road arteries will link the site to the relevant government agencies, and
Manlla·Cavite Reclamation Site. therefore has the advantag8 of promoting
efficien.t Interaction between related agert-
Development Zones cles. .
The National Government Center consists ZONE 11/: The Outer Ring: The Implementing
of an orderly arrangement of buildings and Bodies
structures housing the essential functions
of a government center. The planning area This outer ring of development encircles
may be divided into four development zones the first two zones. It features a landscape
based on general function groupings. These design that unifies the different building
development zones with distinctcharacteris· clusters within it, and enhances linkages
tics are unified by a loop road network, a with other zones. Within this zone are the
landscaped design that enhances visual implementing bodies, namely: 1) Ministry of
linkages, and an architectural character that Education and Culture, 2) Ministry of Social
reflects the image of a National Government Service and Development, 3) Ministry of
Center. . Local Government and Community Develop-
ment, 4) Ministry of Health, 5) Ministry of
Youth and Sports Development,'6) Ministry
ZONE I: The Central Park
of AgriCUlture, 7) Ministry of Natural .Re-
The Central Park, located along the main sources, 8) Ministry of Public Works, Trans-
spine of the National Government Center, is portation and Communications, 9) MinistrY
a wide stretch of open space, 133hectares in of Public .Highways, 10) Ministry of Energy,
area, extending from the Republic Avenueto 11) Ministry of Environment, 12) Ministry of
the Batasang Pambansa. Agrarian Reform, 13) Ministry of Labor, and
One of the distinct elements of the Central 14)Ministry of GeneralServices.
Park is the monument, which gives the The allocation and clustering of ..these
Batasang Pambansa Complex an eppre- agencies within this development·;zone Is
priate foreground. Another prominent fea· likewise based on the analysis of functional
ture of the Park is the multi-level lagoon that relationships among them through the use
forms a "(" shape within the central area. of an interaction net.
Starting as two small waterfalls flowing
down on both sides of the Batasang Pam-
banes and the monument, it merges near the ZONE IV: The Fringe Areas: The· Support
Don Mariano Marcos Avenue. This water Facilities
body, which also supports marine life, en-
hances the natural setting of the whole com, These .fringe areas include support
plsx. facilities that are located on the north, south,
eastand west portions ofthe site. .
.A MERALCO substation will service the
ZONE 1/: The Inner Ring
northern half of the NGC. It has an area of
This zone, shaped like an arch, is bisected . one (1)hectare and will be serviced by the
on two sides by the Central Park. Three outermost vehicular access 10QP.
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PHILIPPINE. PLANNING JOURNAL
Another MERALCO substation will service walks and landscaped spaces between
the southern half of the Center. It has also an office bUildings and between building clus-
areaof one (1) hectare. ters.
An Interaction Center, a country club- Public vehicular movement will be by
house overlooking the Marlklna Valley, will means of rapid transit through the Don
be located at the eastern fringe area.This Is Mariano 'Marcos Avenue and the RepUblic
where Informal meetings or caucuses among Avenue, Local shuttle buses will be confined
officials can be held. along the secondaryroad network.
The western fringe area will contain the Bicycle lanes will be prOVided along all
metorpeo), police and fire station, chapel, primary and secondary roads. Bicycle
shopping and reQreation center, infirmary, circulation will extend Into the public park
and sewage treatment plant. The facilities- system and courtyards within the bUilding
will.serve not only the NGCbut the surround- cluster.
ing housing subdivisions as well. Vehicular service will be through a system
The support faclJlties are appropriately of driveways and parking on the level below
located in such a way that they cater to the the podium of office buildings. Podium level
needs of their users efficiently without inter- will be pedestrlan-oriented.
fering with the normal functioning of the
wholeNGC.
Open Space System: Ec~/oglcal Design
Movement System Concepts The open space system bears more than
Three modes of movement are tnecrpora- just significance when It is linked with the
ted in the design: one is by public transit concept of a metropolitan park system. The
system and private vehicle; another Is the Constitutional Hill open spii\ce provides a
bicycie mode purposely provided for high level of environmental protection. The
employees living In the communities sur- provision of extra open space into the areaIs
rounding the center; and the third Is the based on value judgment, especially be-
pedestrian mode through the use of covered cause the Constitutional Hill site is an inland
and highland area where environmental and The incorporation of amenities and faci-
ecological balance is critical. lities within these defined zones of influence
The site features landscaping designed in will, reinforce natural surveillance because
such a way that it becomes the' natural of the presence of people. Patrolling public
habitation of birds and some animal species. areas continually can have an effect of
Trees and shrubs are so selected that their securing a peacefUl environment. Surveil-
blooming' period coincide with the sessions lance also has a demonstrable effect of re-
of the Batasan Pambanea. ducing fears and anXietyof people. The feel-
Its accessibility can easily attract park ing that an area is secure will encourage
visitors so much so that its excessive use people to use it more often, and thereby im-
could be detrimental. To counteract the prove its' security by providing tt)e safety
possible negativeeffects of concentration of which comes with intensive use.
park users, stricter environmental control
will be instituted. ' Batasang Pambansa BUilding Complex
The Complex is the first priority building
at the National Government Center, it being
Security Plan
the seat of policy making and the nucleus of
The crime and security problems arising vital functions and activities of the
from the development cannot be solved government. Its location has a panoramic
simply through augmented police force or view of the Novaliches Reservoir on the
firepower. Security can be achieved in two north, the Marikina Valley on the east, and
levels: first, by sophisticated monitoring the housing subdivision around It, Govern-
equipment located in the office and building ment agencies that have related functions
clusters which will be connected to a central with it are placed near the Complex to'
communication monitor; and second, by facilitate communication' and business
natural surveillance methods.' transactions. Its encircling avenue provides
Architectural design can show that a vehicular and pedestrian access to this
publlc space is the shared extension of the summit, thus, ensuring a smooth traffic
private realm of a group of individuals. The within and outside the Complex.
design makes it possible for both user and The Complex is composed of a cluster of
stranger to perceivethat an area is under the three structures: the Main Assembly Hall
influence of a particular group. with committee Wings, and, two a-storey
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PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
office it on sides. These ever these are necessary.
office were constructed Sixteen committee rooms are prewlejed
the skeletal structure committee and
erected at the site way back in the 1950's for and a to the Batasan memo
the the con- bers a for relaxation session
struction of which did not materialize. recess.
Within the constraints of the The office spaces are to mini·
structure, a modular was adopted, mlze unnecessary outside disturbances
such as the use of standards sizes for
and maximize communication. Natural venti-
wirldows, wall pan and and lation is office nl'll'titinnl~
other bulldlrlg components.
that are open at the and wide concourses
that will allow fresh air to circulate tnnoucln
The Design
the corridors Into the offices. These corridors
The main session hall can accommodate at the same serve as overflow
200 some 1 observers area for the estimated Who will
in three-level and about 800 be and business in the
audience". The Session Hall is for the Main
linked on two levels with the office both the two office
for the convenience of the Batasan are ventilated. Provisions for
members. a central air was also
The Prime Minister's Office has direct taken Into account. no elevator is
access to the Main Session Hall. He is installed at but a shaft for future
orovlded with a caucus room imme,dicltely vertical access from the to the sixth
behind the Session Hall for huddles when- floor was provided.
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PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
Area Percentage
1 Area Percentage
Executive Island 40.74 has. 18.62% Office Building
Security Housing Cluster Zone 188 has. 52.4%
and Buffer Zone 37.03 has. 16.92% Public Park 46 has. 12.9%
Office Building Main Road Artery
Cluster Zooe 121.21 has. 55.40% with NGC 35 has. 9.7%
Main Highway 10.19 has. 4.66% Non-Buildable Areas 33 has. 9.2%
Waterways 9.63 has. 4.40% Waterways 17 has. 4.8%
Total 218.80 has. 100.00% Commercial Zone 40 has. 11.0%
Say 220.00 has. Total 359 has. 100.0%
6
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN MANILA
FROM A CITY PLANNER'S POINT OF VIEW
Prof. Dr.·lng. Dieter Mark puckert
City and Regional Planner·Architect
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PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
urban environment are Incompatible with the these are not continuously monitored and
proclaimed concept of the City of Man where adjusted to local conditions.
people are supposed to live in safety, dignity, Secondly, the complexity and magnitude
and self-fulfillment. Hence, it can no longer of urban traffic problems, specific counter
be a question of whether there are traffic actions will not have considerable effect if
problems or none.There arel not backed up by and coordinated with other
The various technical and organizational related measures.
means to solve them are known. And several Thirdly, approaches to solve the traffic
sectoral measures, In fact, have been im- problem have been unilaterally focused on
plemented In the metropolis, mainly in the attempts to accommodate and to easetraffic
field of civil engineering, e.g., road construc- in its existing volume and nature (accommo-
tion and interchanges, grade separation; and dating approach), whereas little consldsre-
traffic management, e.g., traffic efficiency tlon has been given so far to possibilities
program,traffic gUidance, truck ban, and law of reducing or eveneliminating traffic jams.
enforcement campaign. However, it seems Indeed, this preventive approach requires
that most of these undoubtedly appropriate the inclusion of sectors which have hardly
actions and programs have not brought been activated for the particular purpose of
about the expected alleviation, although improving the traffic situation in the metro-
similar solutions, obviously, are being suc- polis. Whereas the conventional accommo-
cessfully applied in different parts of the dating approach is mainly associated with
world. measures in the sector of traffic engineering
From my observations, there are three and traffic management, the preventive ap-
basic reasons for the apparent failure of the proach will require various actions which can
efforts to solve traffic problems which have be attributed to three sectors, namely:
been made so far. change of lifestyle and habits; development
Firstly, particular measures have not been of public transportation; and urban planning.
carried out properly. For example, the con- In the following sections, the most out-
struction of a wide road will bring about little standing measures from the sectors are
Improvements if it is not properly connected discussed, their specific effects, the prere-
with the other high capacity components of quisites under which such effects may be
the urban street network. Neither will traffic expected, and how they are interrelated to
managementcampaigns be of much effect jf each other.
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PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
A questionable equllibre between cirCUlation area and buildable area (Los AngeleS)
4. Public Transport
Aside from providing the necessary mo-
bility to the less affluent who do not haveany
other choice at lowest possible costs, public
transport should serve another purpose,
namely, to reduce traffic volume by
attracting more car owners to use it as an
alternative, especially on the way to/from
their workplaces_ Already the shifting of car
owners to public transport would produce
remarkable gain, since an efficient mass
transit system is capable of accommodating Comparative road area requirements 270 passen-
more passengers on one lane than in private gers in public transport (light rail or bus) or in 193
private cars-a tYpical peak period situation
cars on eight lanes.6
In consideration of such quantitative com-
parison, it Is not oniy Justifiable then, but A pUlllng effect towards public transport
Imperative for the authorities to undertake or a pushing effect away from private trans-
adequate actions either to promote public port could be achieved through some prin-
transport or to restrict the use of private cars cipal options:
or both at the sametime. 1. Restriction of car ownership through
The private sector which has, so far,
higher duties or Import quota wouid be
operated public transport for a ciearly
relatively easy to administer but would
defined soclai group Is, underStandably
unnecessarily curtail Indivlduai trans-
unable to respond to such diversified re-
port in low density and rural areas
quest alone. The task is too complex and
where public transport is not feasibie.
voluminous. Neither funds nor expertise Is at
hand. 2. Therefore, a restriction of car usage
Therefore, the authorities haveto take the within those areas or hours where
Initiative by providing planning and organi- traffic load is most critical seems to
zational capacities, giving the guarantees, be more adequate.
and granting all necessary privileges and 3. Drastic limitation of road construction
exemptions which development and opera- would eventually lead to a state where
tion of an Improved transport system might motorists, out of desperation, wouid
necessitate. changeoverto public transport'?
.
Tranvia or light rail system with narrow bodies Extremely wide·bodied mass transit vehicles
limited passenger capacity and hampered by other (Hongkong)
traffic.
tunnels wide enoughto allow future changes applied as required by local ambience. How-
to high capacity trains. ever,the necessary ramps impose extensive
As a matter of fact, substantial relief from obstacles into the urban structure.
increasing traffic problems can only be Unfavorable geological and topographical
achieved when public transport is operated conditions in the metropolitan area as well
at separated level (gradeseparation),at least as the tremendous costs that go with it
within the inner urban area, be it above or largely rule out underground alignment,
below the ground. Whatever mode might be whereas installation above ground would
chosen is a priori and also of less import- cause some environmental impacts which
ance. The gain from such a mass transport could, however,be minimized.
system would be manifold: Assuming a railbound system with elec-
1. The main roads would be partly relieved trical propulslon, noise and. vibration
from bus traffic. nowadays can be decreased to tolerable
2. Public transport, if given an absolute, levels. Research on how to further reduce
unimpeded mobility, would carry larger the nuisance from public transport is still
volumes of passengersfast and safely. going on.sAlso it has been experienced that
3. Increased speed and reliability of the train-generated sounds are more psycholo-
public transport system would attract gically accepted than other traffic noise.
car owners. . As far as the visual intrusion of any ele-
4. Even more road space could be re- vated mass transit system is concerned,
claimed. opinions are quite controversial. The
5. The recovered reserve of road capacity opponents, perhaps, have in mind the
would allow efficient traffic guidance. overaged New York Metro, rattling over bUlky
ironwork or the massive space consuming
The horizontal and vertical alignment of traffic constructions of urban highway inter-
the system would require thorough and (manges. - .
extensive studies of local conditions. Gen-
erally speaking,routing depends on density
of residences and working places. Vertical
alignment is influenced mainly by technical
and functional requirements, the availability
SNahverkehrsforschung '79. Der Bundesminis-
of space, and aesthetlcal aspects (visual ter fOr Forschung und Technologie Bonn, 1979.
intrusion). In principle, level changes can be ISBN 3-88 135-07MI, Summaries in EngliSh. p.73ft
14
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
15
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
are in use. (The recently inaugurated first partly Incorporated Into the new network.
transit line in Hongkong is estimated to carry Studies have to be made with utmost tho-
up to 60,000 passengers per hour).1o In roughness because rail trunks allow hardly
general, an increase of capacity is limited to any adjustments unlike bus lines.
the improvements of the control and safety A more dynamlo approach could be
devices of the lines, possibly allowing higher adopted whereby future development of
train frequencies. However, all attempts to commercial, industrial and residential areas
raise the passenger capacity of a projected could be concentrated within the catchment
mass transit system will be ineffective areasof the masstransit stations.
unless a variety of measures is undertaken Such strategy, however, should promote
to ensure that the actual passenger load will the concentration within reasonable limits. -
reach Its full capacity as often as possible. However, such attempts would eventually
Close coordination and cooperation with lead to an extremely unbalanced utilization
other carriers have to be established and of rolling stock because of the uni-
monitored by the authorities. directional flow of commuters during peak
A feasible compromise has to be arrived at hours.
between the necessityto operate the system Therefore, an overall urban planning stre-
in strict accordance with common sconorntc tegymust promote a counter balancing de-
principles and the need to fulfill a basic velopment of mixed-usetownships along the
social function. This will include a prudent mass transit lines, and encourage residen-
fare policy with seasonal tickets, off-peak tial land use in or near $xisting
pricing as well as reductions for the lowest concentration of working places.
income groups. Aside from the aforemen- These integrated transportation planning
tioned technical and operational considera- and urban development concepts have been
tions, the succes of a mass transit system applied In Stockholm and In Hamburg,where
depends basioally on the number of poten- density standards have also been set to
tial users who live or work within the catch- optimize the operation of maes transit sys-
ment areas of its stations. The mass transit tems.l1
lines therefore have to be Installed In or as
near as possible to existing high density
5. Comprehensive Urban Planning
residential areas and existing high density
commercial/Industrial areas. Moreover, it The Charter of Athens was promUlgated
has to be examined whether the existing as a reaction to the unwholesome Impact of
railway system or its rights of way can be industrialization on urban environment.
11Till KrOger, Peter Rathmann, Joachlm Utech,
Das Hamburger Dlchtemodell In Stadthauwelt
10John M. Gold, "Hongkong Mass Transit Sys- 1972 Heft 36,Bertelsmann Fachzeltschriften CmbH,
tem" International Railway Joumet, 1977, p. 1. p.293.
16
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
Through this. the demand for sepatatlon of the radial roads, are the large fully-developed
the four basic land uses was introduced to areas of idle or inadequately used land
planning. In those days no other remedy but within the Metro Manila area.These areas
disintegration of land uses, under the bind public Investments without significant
criterion of compatiblllty, could be thought return. MeanWhile, more road construction
of. No distinction was made, though. funds have to be allocated for new settle-
between the eiementary functions, living- ments in the outskirts.
worklng·recreation, and the resuitlng subor- Perhaps, if detailed plans that are more
dinate function-circulation. Surprisingly. In definite than zoning maps. and more binding
urban planning little attention was paid to the for those idle areas could be setup, illusive
possibility of preventing traffic generation speculations could be lowered. Eventually.
through appropriate location of uses and cooperation of the landowners can be
facilities and positive control of building achieved in utlllzing their land for badly
density. needed" comprehensive development proj-
As can be observed In the metropolis, un- ects which should include. aside from hous-
necessary traffic Is generated through the Ing for all social levels, an integrated com-
uncoordinated development of public facio munity with commercial facilities and labour-
IIties and community services. Especially intensive non-pottutlve industries. The con-
in neWly developed residential districts, cept of self-reliant communities (BLISS)
facilities are scarce, their locations are ac- which was launched by the Ministry of Hu-
cidental and scattered, and their access i- man Settlements (MHS) in early 1979. and
)lllty from a reasonable catchment area is several redevelopment projects undertaken
hampered by subdivision walls. There are by the Human Settlements Development
places where not even a sari-sari store can be Corporation (HSDC), are promising ap-
found within a walking distance. The prob- proaches which are likely to generate the
lem Is that the residents of such areas do not desired effects on urban traffic. Naturally.
seem to be bothered about their lifestyle and such development of the metropolitan area
the waste of time and resources such a life· would yield only long term benefits In amelio-
style imposes on them: thus, planning au- rating the traffic situation and even these
thorities would have but little justification might, to be realistic. very well be covered up
to interfere. . by general trends of gradual deterioration
Another phenomenon which increasingly of urban moblllty, unless supported by other
leads to traffic congestions, especially along measures.
Studies' on catchment areas, density of, working and residential population for mass transit line
~ambu~~, '
17
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
Considering that significant traffic loads trlbutory to the development of less traffic-
In any city result from regular movements generative collocation of uses Is by restrict-
between working places and residential Ing the size and (with the exception of resi-
areas,a fundamental objective In planning Is dential areas) the building density of any
to bring such uses closer to each other with- kind of monofunctional area. Density res-
out necessarily Impinging on the established triction would mean tlilat the oversplll of ac-
principles of land use planning. tivities In highly attractive commercial areas
The nearness of Industrial or commercial could be channeled to other potential cen-
uses, alone, does not Imply that the majority ters, with the effect of a more even spread of
of the labour force wlll actually be absorbed supply, services and job opportunities,
from adjacent residential areas. This smoother accesslblllty, and shorter travel
depends on whether the soclo-economlc distances. Space between centers should be
level of the Inhabitants fairly matches with determined by walking distances and the
the kind of labour offered. But usually, neigh- catchment areasof public facilities ("public"
bouring areas with complementary uses wlll, here Is related to function, not necessarily
sooner or later, adjust to each others' stand- to operator). Resldentlal density ShOUld cor-
ards and become closely Interrelated. This respond to the cap.clty of said facilities, and
will result In traffic flow that is reduced In should decrease with the distance from the
both quantity and length. center to allow a wider choice of different
In fact, the pluralistic real-estate markat housing types.
Is quite sensitive to such linkage-economics, If collocation of uses Is liJ<ely to reduce
unless overruled by spectacular mono-func- traffic generation, the objectives of land use
tional developments of I.Jflproportlonately planning and zoning have to be examined.
large properties. The modernistic and orderly Possibly, a combination of uses should be
appearance of such development form the permitted to become evenmore Intense.
very antithesis of what Is referred to as the The usual justification for land use plans
"City of Man:' still Implies that density and mixed uses are
The way by which planning can be con- synonymous to unhealthful and dangerous
Highest possible Integration of uses: mass transit' station Inside shopping mall-yet a vision.
18
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
A self-contained township of 20,000 people with elevated mass transit link to two cities (Ouisburg!
OilsseJdorf).
environment. Meanwhile, the industries have critical urban areas, both by quantitative and
either ceased to exist or changed their poilu- qualitative decisions. To correspond to the
tive operation, and entirely new highly labour desired mix of uses, two new zoning cate-
intensive industrial and commercial sectors gories need to be defined; "core area" and
have developed, which do not produce any "mixed area."
adverse environmental impact at all. Rather Density control will require regulation of
than in public parks, people nowadays spend split gross floor ratios for commercial and
more of their leisure time in shopping and residential uses. Design and construction of
amusement centers which, at the same time, those environmental elements which do not
cater to their household needs. Urban life- yield any return, but are nonetheless vital to
style has become so multi-faceted and the success of a project, like pedestrian
interrelated that it is incomprehensible why zones linking the center with its respective
this has not been reflected in a correspond- residential areas have to be carried out by
ingly integrated physical environment. the authorities.
With urban land becoming scarce and This does not mean Utopia. It can and
transportation becoming costly, time con- ought to be realized in quite a human scale,
suming, and unpleasant, urban planning with conventional means, in the existing
should comprise three dimensions. Hence, social structure and free market economy.
urban centers and subcentsrs should be As is well known, mixed functions have 'El.
designed according to specific functional tradition in Southeast Asia. The typical 2-3
requirements of different levels instead of storey shop house (town house) represents
lot areas. the smallest unit Where integration of
In the centers, the ground level could be working and living has been practiced ever
allocated to shopping and related uses; the since.
second and third levels, preferably to offices, The chance to reduce traffic generation
community services or non-pollutlvs indus- is certainly not the only advantage whicl'i'.
try; and the fourth and fifth levels for special such comprehensively planned areas would
types of residences. Other facilities may still offer. With regards to the appreciation which
be arranged laterally, sharing internal complex shopping centers are presently
circulation and parking space. enjoying, developers will welcome the flexi-
To promote such inward development or bility and higher return which mixed land
urban renewal projects, the authorities uses can yield. Also, people will find it in-
would haveto take a stronger lead in shaping creasingly attractive to have all the facili-
19
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
SUMMARY
Like the Asian societies themselves, the
The solution of traffic problems in the cities in Asia have been undergoing a series
metropolitan area would require a multitude of rapid social changes. Indeed, the cities
of measures. They consist of short-term and have become centers of such changes and
long·term actlone. The efficiency of the have also become the principal areas where
particular measures highly depend 'on their the nation's dysfunctional elements make
joint .. implementation. Substantial effects, themselves most explicitly felt. This
therefore, will materialize not earlier than inevitably highlights the crucial role of the
accomplishments if long·term measures cities in the developmentof societies.
havebeen made. Both national and local leaders as well as
Indispensable long-term·measures are the planners in Asia have not been oblivious of
installation of a mass transit system with the changing environment in their cities. The
grade separation and the re-integration of , enormity of urban problems, such as sub-
uses through development of large self- stantial unemployment and increasing slum
-contalned townships in the inner and Inter- and squatter settlements, has made a
mediate metropolitan area. positive '. concern with the cities inevitable.
However, traffic problems haveto be dealt It is also possible that the leaders may have
with'in the wider context of general environ- been pushed into a positive concern with
city problems by their own rhetoric of
mental aspects. They are not primarily a
"equality" or "social justice", intended to
matter of technology and knOW-hOW, but
extend their personal appeal and legitimacy.
rather pose an administrative problem. Periodic attempts have been made by
The proven mechanism ot self·regulating leaders and planners to improve the
free economy fails to function in an urban condition of the cities and of their dwellers.
order of magnitude. Instead, the authorities Reality reveals, however, that urban prob-
have to intervene to safeguard the public lems, instead of decreasing, have steadily
good by directing private initiative through a increased both in magnitude aflld in tnten-
positive, mainly stimulating, rather than slty.
restrictive approach. It will be submitted in this paper that the
As a basis, therefore, a continuously up- relative failure of the Asian planner to cope
dated overall development concept com- with urban growth may be attributed, at least
prising urban expansion as well as inward in part, to the way in which he has tended to
development and urban renewal for the conceptualize the Asian urban experience.
whole metropolitan areais needed. His framework of reference has been the
Ongoing . uncoordinated urban growth "conventional model" which is essentially a
would progressively narrow in the spatial Western orientation to urban development,
options for improvement measures. As a which harqly takes into account the reality of
consequence, costs of land and contemporary life in Asian cities. This sug-
development for such measures would be gests an urgent need for a reorientation of
growing over-proportionately. our urban vision and for a formulation of a
The present extent of traffic problems in new urban model which would both reflect
the metropolitan area is caused by only ap- more adequately actual urban conditions in
proximately 60 pcunooo inhabitants (as Asian societies and could serveas a realistic
compared with more than 300 in Europeand guid, to dynamic urban development. The
aim of this paper is to advance such an
more than 400 in USA)~ With the expected alternative model-a "positive perspective"
increase in car ownership and with further - for urban development. The proposed
urban growth the situation is bound to model consists of a cluster of "positlve'
worsen rapidly. proposals for improving the quality of life in
20
THE ASIAN CITY: THE POSITIVE
PERSPECTIVE IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT
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PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
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PHILIPPINE PLANNWG JOURNAL
nant elite and the people at large, such as in and the squatter problem are "a symptom
Indian cities, where rigid stratification based of processes operating at a societal level,"8
on the system of castes reinforces such a manifesting the unbalanced pattern of social
gap, This tends to favor the traditional development that these societies follow.
conservative authority and to obstruct The other popular thesis presents a highly
attempts at modernization and major re- optimistic sentiment on urban development
forms. Moreover, the tradition of local auto- and is frequently identified with the "un-
nomy is usually fairly weak, which is another limited urbanization" thesis. The advocates
factor mitigating against local initiative to of this thesis prefer to highlight the bene-
institute more radical urban change. Such ficial changes that urban growth has brought
conditions are normally absent in the West. about and the opportunities that it offers.
Hence, although crucial in Asia, these For them, if modernization is the goal of
conditions are not seriously considered in Asian societies, urbanization is the most
conventional theories of city growth, reliable instrument to achieve it. This
message is reflected in the writings of many
The City and National Development prominent theorists of urban development.
Dobson and Teune, for example, imply in
Recent literature on Asian urbanlzatlon"
their empirical study conducted in the Philip-
revealsthe growing awareness of the central
pines, the desirability of more extensive ur-
role that the city plays in the development of
banization, this on the basis of their finding
Asian societies. In Gerald Breeze's words
that there is a positive association between
the city is the -, primary agency and
increased urbanization and a higher level of
diffusion point of social change for its new
social development and of administrative
natlon."? Yet the same literature presents
capacity," John Friedmann even more drama-
the city in a highly critical fashion, that it has
tically perceives the city as an engine of
faHed as an agent ot nancnat development.
development generating modernity and
We shall presently consider two popular
economic growth. He advocates a strategy
theses on the relationship of the city to na-
of "deliberate urbanization" which, in his
tional development in Asia to suggest their
view, will destroy old unwanted structures
vulnerability. The first is a highly critical
and values and will stimulate the formation
thesis in which the Asian city is viewed
of truly modern structures and attitudes,1o
essentially as a "parasitic" formation, The
Gordon Edwards,writing in the same splrlt,"
advocates of this thesis emphasize the
condemns planners who exton the virtues
peculiar colonial or neo-colonial pattern of
and opportunities of rural life as unrealistic
growth taking place in Asian cities focusing
sentimentalists, insisting that it is in the city
on the dualistic or exploitative nature of
where "the action is," He further relates the
their economy. In sum, city growth in Asia is
growth of cities to the growth of industrial-
seen as a superficial, if not harmful exper- ization which he sees as the key to all future
ience which fails to provide a positive re- development efforts. Edwards contends
sponse to the needs of nation-building. It is that such popular conventional remedies
said to have created new social and econ- to social ills of Asian cities as family plan-
omic inequalities and divisions and to per- ning, restriction on population, and other
petuate the immobility of traditional social
and occupational arrangements, thus to be
counter-developmental in its effects. In this 8T.G. McGee. The Urbanization Process into
the Third World. (London, Bell and Sons, 1971),
context, the great social problems found in p.31 .. _ .
Asian cities are viewed as merely reflecting \ 9ArchDotson and Henry Teune. "On the Con-
certain deeper problems that are present in sequences at Urbanization: Contributions to Ad-
the societies' themselves, Unemployment ministrative Capacity and Development" in'
Jakobson and Prakash, eds., Metropolitan Growth:
Public Policy for South and Southeast Asia. (New
York, John Wiley and Sons, 1974).
10See John Friedmann. Urbanization,
aSee, for instance, relevant work's by Meier, Planning and National Development. (Beverly
Dwyer, McGee, Gerald. Breese. Jakobson and Hills, California, Sage Publications, 1973).
Prakash, Laquian and Abueva. l1See Gordon Edwards and L.A. Viloria. "The
• 7Gerald Breese. Urbanization in Newly Devel, City in the Third World." (Occasional Paper No.6,
oping Countries. (New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, 1966), Institute of Planning, University of the Philippines,
p.41. 1971).
23
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
social strategies that focus on the "anti- development; 2) the recognition of the need
urban" rural alternative are developmentally for substantial social change in the cities;
harmful. Such strategies, he claims, detract 3) the advocacy of comprehensive ap-
our attention from the real problem of na- proaches to city planning; 4) the advocacy
tional development, which is productivity. of a ~'balanced" position on city develop·
All the other problems are of secondary im- ment; and 5) a commitment to a normative
portance and ultimately manageable. Hence, position in urbanization. These five pro-
extensive urbanization accompanied by a posals will be briefly discussed.
dynamic policy of urban growth is the The commitment to growth in the context
answer to perceived needs for progress in of national policy for developmentis the flrst
the Asian developing economies. major feature of the positive perspective.
Both theses just discussed are open to-- A more active role for Asian governments
major criticism which, if valid, would sug· is proposed for city development. Whereas
gest their conceptual vulnerability. The non-interventionism or a laissez tetr« ettl-
"parasitic city" thesis, although perhaps tude has been the conventional practice
justified in certain respects, appearsopen to where urban growth is left to the forces of a
criticism for being too negative in character "free market" and thereby the social conse-
when it is unaccompanied by a set of realis- quences of urban growth tend to be neg-
tic policy·generating alternatives. Moreover, lected. There are several reasons why such
with its excessive emphasis on dysfunc- interventionist policy should be adopted.
tional social structures, this thesis seems to One is the rapid and enormous expansion
view piecemeal approaches, however bene- of the cities in recent decades,a trend which
ficial, as fairly meaningless "improvisa- has deeply affected Asian societies and their
tions", which then tends to encourage the economies. This gives rise to problems of
belief, politically unrealistic, that no re- great magnitude which are beyond the capa-
formist action short of social revolution can city of the cities themselves to tackle. Only
ever bring about genuine urban develop- the central authority has the necessary re-
ment. sources to do so. Another reason is that the
The "unlimited urbanization" thesis, on politics of the cities has often been domi-
the other hand, appearsto suffer from exces- nated by status quo defending interests so
sive optimism. It implies the belief in near that any meaningful change that may be
magical power of urbanization to resolve all urgently needed can come only from the
the major social and economic problems of outside. This might have been the case in
Asian societies. Yet reality indicates that Calcutta or in Manila. Moreover, if a more
such problems are often brought about balanced policy for national development
exactly by extensive and rapid urbanization is to be followed, the place of urbaniza-
of these societies. In fact, such problems are tion cannot be disregarded, which then may
present in great measureeven in those Asian require some form of urban planning or con-
cities in which dynamic strategies for urban trol on a nation-wide scale. The proposed
growth havebeen Widely adopted. commitment needs to be qualified, however.:
By a national policy for the cities, it is not
Positive Perspective
implied that there is an inevitable increase
in statism or central bureaucratic control,
An alternative model called the "positive the tendency to treat urban problems as
perspective" for urban growth which is de- purely "national" problems or simply ad-
veloped in this paper is an attempt to over- mlnistrative problems. Rather, the role of the
come or minimize the difficulties that are central authority would be primarily to pro-
present in conventional models or ap- vide a general guidance or stimulus to
proaches, some of which have been dis- ensure that a more equitable distribution of
cussed. It highlights certain aspects of ur- . development take place which is in harmony
ban experience that have not been given with the national objectives of social wel-
due recognition hitherto in urban develop- fare.' It is envisaged that ideally the auto-
ment in Asia. The positive urban perspective nomy of local units would be encouraged,
consists of a package of' "positive" that the cities would enjoy sufficient finan-
proposals which include: 1) commitment to cial viability and would handle some .of Jh~
growth in the context of national policy for major urban social problems with minimal
24
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
26
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
Robert Gamer has observed in his critical Metropolitan Manila, but its Implementation
study of Singapore's "miracle" of urban trans- has not been clearly specified. The positive
formation, this failure "raises the question urban policy in the Philippines can perhaps
of whether these shortcomings might be be summarized under the "six guiding prin-
overcome by (mere) structural reorganiza- ciples" which the government announced
tion of planning."24 A similar question has in 1977. These principles are intended to
been raised by Ocampo, in the context of serve as the. basis for new urban develcp-
Philippine experience with city housing. ment, at least in the Metropolitan Manila
According to him, housing policy tradition- Area.26 These are: 1) maximum community
ally advocated by local jurisdiction in Metro- participation in planning and implementa-
politan Manila has had equally negative tion; 2) a total community development; 3)
social consequences. 25 provisions for economic opportunities; 4)
maximum retention of structures and fam-
Positive Development ilies; 5) provision of sites and services; and
The positive urban outlook advanced in 6) maximum recognition of land rights. The
this paper should lead the Asian planner to adoption of such a progressive formula for
adopt a type of urban development that we urban development is an encouraging event,
think ought to be adopted. This implies the demonstrating the willingness of Philippine
recognition of qualitative differences In planners to explore more positive or dyna-
development,that development is not mere mic policies for urban growth without dis-
dynamic growth but rather the right kind of regardil)g such outstanding problems of the
growth. As Gamer h~s suggested, mere pur- cities as unemployment, alienation and
suit of development may not be enough, for poverty.
it may lead to a distorted type of growth Despite such recent trends toward more
which may not be worth very much in the positive urban policies and outlook, major
end. In sum, the type of urban development shifts in the dominant urban perspective are
that Is envisaged as desirable is one that yet to be realized. After all, thsre are great
aims at more general urban welfare and that constraints, such as of financial nature
demonstrates the capacity to satisfy a wide which may explain why planners of ASia~
range of needs and aspirations both cities should feel more comfortable with the
individual and collective, thus enhancing the conventional developmentalist pursuit of ad-
quality of life in Asian cities. ministrative efficiency and economic growth
Our inquiry into the theory and practice than with the less tractable and possibly
of development appropriate for the cities in more expensive issues and policies for
Asia has revealed that in the decade of the social improvements. Reluctance to respond
'70's, references to and the use of positive more positively to new trends in urbaniza-
approaches have become more frequent al- tion may, however, be traced to deeper
though in a limited way. The Philippine ex- causes than the planners' concern for scarce
perience is a prominent example of such financial resources. More likely than not
recent trends. Here the new urban ethos has such reluctance is rooted in th"e peculiar per-
been translated Into such value-impregnated sonal values or in the assumptions which the
concepts as "Human Settlements" or "The planners hold about the nature of society
City.of Man." A new Ministry of Human Set- and man. The generation of Asian planners
tlements was established in 1978 to give dominant today still appears to view urban
political muscle to more positive urban development in essentially mechanistic or
planning as well as to meet increasing public manjputatlve terms, focusing attention to
demand for a better quality of urban life. In structural and physical rather than human
1978,too, a scheme for urban land reform was factors. Hopefully, the new generation of
announced, initially intended for Asian planners will perceive a need for more
humanistic urban values such as those that
24Robert E. Gamer. The Politics of Urban have been outlined in this paper, based on
De'!elof?ment In Singapore. (Ithaca, Cornell the realization that the city is made for man
Umverslty Press, 1972), lntroductlon XXII.
rather than man for the city.
" 25See Romeo B. Ocampo. "Historical Devel·
opment of Philippine Housing Policy." (Part I and
II).. Occasional Paper Nos. 6 and 7. (Manila Col·
leg.~ o~ Public Administration, University of the 26Val Abelgas. "Improving life in slum areas,"
Philippines, 1976). . Philippine Daily Express (March 25, 1977), p. 10.
30
DEVELOPMENT OF
INDIGENOUS CIVIC ARCHITECTURE
32
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
Architectural Language
This strategy will require the development
of a mechanism for inculcating awareness
for local design images among the Filipinos.
. The ultimate goal of this strategy is to make
Ornate columns. Filipinos identify, appreciate, and use local
33
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
Food, shelter and clothing are the uni- existing low-income housing projects in
versal needs of man. Of these three, shelter Metro Manila, where the floor areas of
protects man and his family from the harsh houses would range anywhere from 50 sq.m.
elements of nature-the bitter winter cold in to 90 sq.rn. or even more. On the other hand,
the temperate countries and the intense heat the 31.5 sq.m. minimum is probably larger
of the sumer sun and the strong winds than most houses that farmers and fisher-
during the typhoon season in the tropical men build for their families in the rural areas.
regions. It provides him with the minimum At present there is actually no standard
spaces within which he and his family dwells yet for the minimum adequate space for
and carry out their domestic activities. It is the Filipino family, either in the urban or
the place that eventually man calls his home. rural areas. This topic is still the subject of
In the Philippines, the Ministry of Human current intensive research.
Settlements has identified shelter as only For the rural housing component of the
one of the eleven basic needs of man and his Bagong Lipunan Sites and Services Program
community-together with food, clothing of the Ministry of Human Settlements or
and cottage industries, livelihood or econ- BLISS I Program,the minimum floor area for
omic base, ecological balance, water, power, house that must be provided for a familyof 6
sports and recreation, education and cul- is set at 30 sq.m. This is a 5 m. by 6 m. house,
ture, health and nutrition and mobility. The which our architects find reasonably ade-
goal of the Ministry of Human Settlements quate for a small house with a small veranda,
is to provide all the human settlements of a combined living and dining area, one bed-
the country with at least the basic minimum room and a small kitchen and tollst.
-adequate provisions for all of these basic Perhaps the setting of minimum adequate
needs. standards is not all that important, especial-
In terms of shelter or housing, the primary ly when placed in the context of Philippine
goal is twofold: one, to provide man and his local conditions. In the rural areas, for exam-
family with the basic minimum adequate ple, although the extended family is still the
spaces in which to live; and two, to express, tradition, families actually live more in a
design and build these minimum adequate community rather than in a house. What we
spaces in what might be called appropriate mean is this: (blessed with warm tropical
architecture. climate for the entire year, most of the mem-
bers of the family spend most of their time
Minimum Adequate Space
outside the house. The father, together with
The International Labor Organization has his eldest son, is out tilling the ricefields the
suggested that the target minimum ade- whole day. The older children entertain their
quate space for a house in the developing friends or "barkada" at the improvised
countries of Asia is about 5.25square meters basketball court or in the nearby "sari-sari"
per person. In the Philippines therefore, store; the younger children are either
where the average number of persons in a attelilding school, or out playing with their
household is about 6 persons, we would peer groups in the playgrounds or in the
have to provide a minimum of about 31.5 streets. The only member of the family left
sq.m. for eabh house. This is very much in the house is really the housewife, who
smaller than what is presently provided in also spends a good time of the day at the
35
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
nearby public market where she buys the For those who are familiar with Philippine
food for the family for that day. The family history, the reasons for such disturbing
therefore actually get together only during attitude is not difficult to identify. It is sim-
mealtimes and at night. It is little wonder ply a sad mixture of the vestiges of colonial
then, that the typical one-room Filipino rural mentality on the part of-the occupants, and a
house is actually adequate shelter. The bit of misguided architecture on the part of
interior spaces are sensibly used such that the designers. Most of today's Filipino
the entire house becomes the living room architects, unfortunately, went through a
and play area for the younger children during curriculum and a system that encourages
the day.The house is converted into a dining them to almost follow, if not copy, western
room during mealtimes, :and into a spacious architectural trends. The lack of serious re-
bedroom at night. search on Filipino architecture only serve
The small rural house might not look good to compound the problem, and hampers any
by some standards-it might even look effort towards the creation of Filipino
frail-but it is adequate shelter. architecture.
Redirecting values and, revising the
Appropriate Architecture architectural curriculum is, of course,
Over and above the provision of minimum another subject matter and cannot be
adequate spaces for shelter, the Ministry' covered here, However, it may be noted that
of .Human Settlements is mandated to ex- the architectural profession, specifically the
press this shelter in appropriate architec- United Architects of the Philippines (UAP),
has taken note of this disgraceful trend, and
ture. This is architecture that seeks to effec-
has formed an Architectural Education Eval-
tively respond to the Filipino family's socio-
uation Committee to revise the curriculum,
cultural activities, to protect its member
and is now in the process of identifying the
from the hot and humid climate and more
pertinent syllabi and textbooks to be used by
importantly, to strongly reflect their cultural
the students and teachers in order to effect.
identity as Filipino.
The goal of appropriate architecture is to· a redirection of trend towards the creation of
create shelter that will not only provide the an appropriate archttecture for the Philip-
family with th~ minimum adequate spaces, pines. Hopefully, in-the next few years,these
but one which also extensively use readily efforts will result in a new set of architects
available indigenous building materials in a who will think and design "Filipino."
house designed and built along Filipino Meanwhile, the questions that confront us
architectural motifs. at this point are the following: what are
If one makes a comparison between the / indigenous materials? Are those materials
remote rural villages in the country and some- weak and temporary, uneconomical and im-
of the exclusive resorts and sports clubs of practical? What is Filipino architecture? Is
Metro Manila, it will be noticed that they Filipino architecture out of style or obso-
lete?
have something in common-that is, they
may both be considered "appropriate archi- Indigenous materials may be defined as
tecture." Both use indigenous building those materials that are readily available
methods and their facades are designed in the area, or that are native to that locality.
along distinctively Filipin'b architectural These are the more traditional building ma-
motifs. Indeed, it has become ironic that terials which our forefathers so wisely used,
appropriate architecture has been relegated such as the ubiquitous nipa palm, which
to the remote rural villages, whose grow wild in swamps and rivers, the bamboo,
inhabitants fortunately still adhere to tradi- of which the Philippines has around 32
tional building techniques, and to the very species; rattan, cogon grass, clay tiles, wood
non in the urban areas, where it has become shingles, captz shells and the like.
something of a status symbol. For the mao Indigenous materials, however, is not and
jority of the Filipinos, appropriate architec- should not be limited to these traditional
ture, or the use of indigenous materials and bUilding materials. It must include the more
Filipino ar,¢hitectural motiffs, has come to modern and ingenious inventions and dis-
be regarded as fragile and impermanent, un- coveries, the new ways to which indigenous
economical, impractical, and even out of raw materials can be putfto use. For
style. instance, the use of corals in Cebu, where
36
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
they are plentiful; panels or board made of cut down and replaced in order to increase
laminated bamboo, colr, or even rattan; floor coconut production.
tiles made of coconut shells or bamboo; or If these are the indiqenous materials that
building blocks made of saw dust, rice form the building block of appropriate
husks, or even mine tailings-raw materials architecture, what is Filipino architecture?
which up to now have been regarded as Is there Filipino architecture? The Filipino is
wastes. a mixture of influences, including the
Malays, the Chinese, the Spaniards, and the
There is also the coconut tree, which has Americans. Will a mixture of all these
enumerable uses foremost of which is the influences and architectural types produce
emerging use of Madera Imelda. Madera Filipino architecture? This question is
Imelda is a new construction material made admittedly difficult to answer now, simply
from virtually useless coconut trees that are because there are no answers yet. At this
40 years old or more. It has a fine-grained time it might be safe to identify the tradl-
natural finish and is exotically flacked with a tlonal architecture of the country as repre-
design resembling the feathers of a Palawan sentative of the Filipino architectural style.
peacock. Lumber that is cut from the These.are the nipa hut or the "bahay kubo"
coconut trunk may be used for flooring, In the Visayas regioin; the Antillean or
siding or panelling, and for exterior walls. Spanish influenced architecture of the
Since Matlera Imelda uses old coconut trees Tagalog region; the Muslim-inspired archi-
which have decreased their productivity, its tecture of the South; and the architecture
production will contribute to the importance of the cultural minorities, exemplified by
of replanting coconut trees that have to be the Igorot house in the mountain provinces.
BAHAY-KUBO
37
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
.tAO 1.20 lAO
The Muslim-inspired house is based pri-
marilyonthe bahay-kubo. However, the
,
r--- artistry of the Muslims is evidenced in the
introduction of color and carved. animal
representations or ornaments such as the
DlNIN&'. sarimanok,panalo, andmagoyoda. .
MUSLIM
HOUSE
ANTILLEAN
HQUSE
These four architectural forms are a direct therefore thought to be fragile and not
response to the aoclo-eultural needs of the durable; or the urban and the very rich, and
people; the dictates of climatic conditions; therefore expensive and impractical.
the constraints of bUilding technology; and Are indigenous materials not durable?
the availability of indigenous building ma- The question of durability is rather dsbat-
terials. These houses .can therefore be able. Although indigenous materials may not
regarded as appropriate architecture. Today, last for centuries like the pyramids or other
these forms can be found only in the remote monuments, they are suitable and durable
barrios of the country; in areas designated enough for domestic architecture or hous-
by the Historical Commission for preserva- ing. Nipa shingles, when thatched, may last
tion; or in some exclusive clubhouse or for an average of five (5) years. The lifespan
tourist resort. Appropraite architecture has . may increase up to 15 years depending upon
therefore been associated only with either the degree of slope of the roof, and the
the rural areas and the very poor, and distance between shingles. The steeper the
38
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
1
I
JOTCIl!H/
DlNlI'*'
LIVIN9 IJ 5
I
I
I I
~._~.......::=....+_J
·IFUGAO HOUSE
slope and the closer the shingles are to one IS the use of indigenous materials im-
another, the longer they will last. The degree practical? Nipa shingles, cogon, bamboo
of slope affects water retention In the roof and other such materials easily catch fire.
during and after a rain. Bamboo and rattan, But, when properly used and maintained, and
when properly treated, which could be as when treated, can become fire retardant,
easy and simple as soaking them in sea even fire resistant. On the other hand. the
water for a specified number of days, will Philippines is only a few degrees from the
similarly last for a good number of years. equator, with a temperature that hovers in
Cogon, which is a grass and regarded more the high 90"C during summer, with a relative'
as a nuisance, is used as a roofing material humidity also in the nineties. Such consi-
in the rural areas and can last up to 20 years. derations therefore require that indoor
Madera Imelda, or coconut lumber,is expec- spaces such as that of a house are to be
ted to last up to 30 years or more, when carefully shaded, provided With proper
properly treated. adequate cross ventilation, and built of
The challenge, therefore, is to find better materials that are light and airy.
ways of treating these Indigenous materials In the coastal areas, where most of the
so that they can resist tropical weather and rural villages are located, the use of nlpa
tropical insects, and become more durable. shingles tor roofing is not only light, airy,
To dismiss. these raw indigenous materials and inexpensive; it is also preferable over
as something weak and Impermanent, and to corrugated galvanized iron sheets, which are
substitute steel and concrete and easUy corroded by the saline atmosphere of
corrugated galvanized iron sheets, is a solu- the seashore areas.
tion that is too easy, too costly, and too Is the use of indigenous materials un-
inappropriate. At the same time, the economical? On the contrary. The present
durability of a structure is not Wholly cost of indigenous materials can be made
dependent on the materials used, but is less expensive through mass production and
obviously also contingent on proper care and by developing industrialized housing. ThUS,
maintenance, careful site planning and building components such as doors, Window
Judicious use of land forms and vegetation panels and even entire walls can be designed
for protection against strong winds, and on a modular basis and .mass produced in
proper construction methods. areas where these indigenous raw materials
39
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
areabundant. An entire building Industry can be modern, but not western; traditional, but
therefore be generated from this. Thus, a not archaic.
community located In an area where bamboo It is a difficult challenge, one that can
is abundant could start a cottage industry only be set by the limits of the creativity and
based on this raw material. It could then Innovattvenese Of our contemporary
produce housing components such as architects and designers. However diffiCUlt,
laminated bamboo doors and windows, or It must be met.
wall panels, and supply the needs of other The current revision of the architectural
communities which would similarly be build· curriculum and the efforts to re-educate the
Ing houses. The same can be done for the Filipino architects are all laudable. But the
other raw materials, such as clay, stone, and resutts, like architecture itself, must be
the more traditional materials such as nipa seen, felt and experienced. Only time will tell
shingles, rattan, cogon, and others. This will whether today's architects and designers
not only supply current demands for these are able to meet this challenge and create a
products, but will obviously create the much true Filipino architecture that will be
neededemployment in the rural areas.When accepted by the majority of his countrymen,
the use of these indigenous materials shall and not only by the elite.
havebeen accepted, the demand is expected To summarize, the goal of the Ministry
to Increase. Perhaps it is now the proper of Human Settlements in its shelter program
time to efficiently farm and cultivate these Is not only to provide adequate spaces for
indigenous raw materials, so that instead of living, but also to express this shelter In
depleting our supply of bamboo and nipa terms of appropriate architecture. This
palms, for example, which only grow wild in means that indigenous bUilding materials
swamps and river tributaries, these materials must be used extensively and the housing
could be cultivated properly to produce designs should adopt Filipino regional
bigger yields and create a steady supply of architectural motifs. These indigenous ma-
raw materials. A research might even be terials are durable enough, and can even be
started to see how these materials can be made more durable through proper main-
produced more economically and how they tenance, treatment, and construction
might become more resistant to tropical methods; they ars suitable and practical for
Insects and made more durable for tropical the country's hot and humid climate; and
weather. they are inexpensive and can even be made
The economic possibilities of lndustrtal- less expensive through mass production of
ized houtiing based on indigenous bUilding building components made of indigenous
materials is limitless. What is needed is the raw materials. True Filipino architectural
provision of proper extension services such forms that are modern and contemporary are
as credit facilities, efficient utilization of yet to be created. MeanWhile, fhere are the
raw materials, financial incentives and traditional architectural forms to start with.
organized efforts to make use of volume
discounts in the procurement of raw mao To conclude, the use of indigenous ma-
terials and of Filipino regional architectural
terlals. I
motifs has both an economic and socio-
Lastly, is appropriate architecture out-of- cultural role; it can start massive cottage
style or obsolete? Is it only for the very poor, industries based on the industrialized use of
or for the very rich? This is perhaps the most' local materials in the production of building
difficult problem that faces today's Filipino components; it can rationalize the farming or
architects and designers. When the First cultivation of these indigenous raw
Lady launched the Architectural Renais- materials; create employment in the rural
sance Program of the Ministry of Human areas where these are urgently needed; and
Settlements, and when she challenged the help in attaining the goal of self-sufficiency
architects and designers to develop Filipino and self-reliance.
architecture, she was not asking for another At the same time, it can start are-awaken-
"bahay kubo," or another Spanish or Muslim ing among the people of the true value and
house. What is needed today is architecture beauty of traditional building materials and
that is at once Filipino and yet contem- bUifding forms more attuned to his culture
porary. This means that the architects and and traditions; and perhaps more important-
designers must create new forms that will ly, it can augur a rebirth of Filipino art in
evolve from the traditional Filipino architec- building, and create appropriate architecture
tural forms and motiffs. These forms must forthe Filipinos.
40
INTRAMUROS REDEVELOPMENT*
Federico B. Silao
Associate Professor
Victoria A. Eugenio
Research Associate
Institute of Environmental Planning
University of the Philippines
41
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
LEGEND
Types and
Building Height
_. Concrete
_ Wood 8. Concrete
. • Wood
/~ \
these establishments, many of which are santiago. The latter, aside from serving as
banks and offices, signify that present-day open space, also reinforces the historical
Intramuros fulfills relevant commercial pur- attracttons of the place and serves as a
poses. The presence of such offices and recreational park. Now, the proposed
schools in the area has given rise to the concept plans.
mushrooming of smaller commercial es-
tablishments in the area such as boos
stores, restaurants and other eateries, sari- Intramuros as a Historical/Cultural Center
sari stores, barber shops, boutiques, and
others. This concept plan proposes to set up in
A large portion of the land area of the heart of Intramuros a cultural complex
Intramuros remains relatively free of struc- and a miniature Intramuros to house Filipino-
tures. Except for some law offices, Insurance Hlspanlco art and culture. The proposal
agencies, travel agencies, and newspaper seeks to declare a choice portion of Intra-
offices, the heart of Intramuros is madeup of muros, right in the very heart of the old city, a
warehouses of different shipping firms, pedestrian zone or mall. This area will
transportation companies, and several contain tNe complex and miniature Intra-
brokerage firms which now have been muros. Mbre specifically, this zone will be
ordered demolished. The proximity of Intra- bounded on the northwest by Beaterio, on
muros to the Manila Harbor Docks makes it a the SouthEiast by Sta. Potsnclana, on the
convenient depository of shipments and northeast by Gen. Luna, and on the
cargoes, thus, giving rise to related activi- Northwest by Solana Street. This strategic
ties like the handling and transporting of location of the museum complex will afford
cargoes. Residential units abound in the easeand convenience.
area. They are widely dispersed and of The circulation system is basically pedes-
different styles. Some are just a little better trian oriented. The separation of vehicular
than shanties while a few are, surprisingly from pedestrian traffic is made possible by a
enough, imposing the kind of houses that major circumferential road at the periphery
one finds in new and modern subdivisions. and the pedestrian precincts.
Most of the dwelling units are of the apart- The spatial arrangement of the various
ment variety or of the dormitory type and components was evolved focusing on land
situated usually near the schools. The office uses, separation of vehicular from
buildings are of the mixed residential-com- pedestrian traffic and environmental quality.
mercial type, the ground floors of which are In short, the proposal which seeks to ration-
utilized as stores or restaurants while the alize the land use in the area envisions an
upper floors are for residences. approach that strikes a balance between
The area, too, has a number of open those in favor of complete restoration, re-
spaces such as the Plaza Isabel, the Plaza gardless of funding requirements, and those
Espana, Plaza McKinley, the Boy and Girl opting for a combination of historic and com-
Scouts Plaza, the Manila Aquarium, and Fort mercial solution.
42
PHiLiPPiNEPLANNiNGJOURNAL
.. ~
AS A CULTURAL
HISTOI1ICAL
CENTER
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
Rationale Assumptions
The Office of Protocol of the Ministry of Before the plan for the Embassy Precinct
Foreign Affairs lists some thirty-eight foreign could be properly conceived it was essential
embassies with offices in the country as of to makethe following assumptions:
1975. • The responsibility of the development
About twenty-eight of the .embassies (or of tntramuros rests with the proposed
roughly 73.6 percent) are found In the lntramuros Development Authority,
PERSPECTIVE
_~INTR.ANtUBq~ .
AN EMBASSY DIS.I~ICT
".--"~
44
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
clothed with full corporate powers and the Friendship Park, and a few exclusive
exclusive jurisdiction over the walled restaurants. The area presently bounded by
city; General Luna, Real Street, and the historic
• The Authority shall take over the pro- walls was chosen as the site of the INCo.
prietary rights of all parties-govern- This area offers enough space required by
ment, private or religious-except for such a complex with the least number and
San Agustin and the Manila Cathedral- least costly structures which have to be
through just and appropriate acquisi- demolished to give way to the new develop-
tion schemes. The properties, especially ment.
land will be for lease or forrent only; This complex will relatively be a restricted
• The Authority is empowered to remove area. Only people with business to transact
existing structures, except those cer- in the complex are allowed to enter, together
tified by the NHC as historically valua- with some guided tours.
ble, and relocate establishments-pri-
vate, government or religious out of/into B. Historical/Cultural Zone
Intramuros;
The area from Fort Santiago to San
• Although the warehouses, container
Agustin Church will become the culturall
yards, and terminals will be moved historical zone. The Fort Santiago, San
out of Intramuros and probably relocated Agustin, and Manila Cathedral will be
in the Port Area, shipping line offices maintained and preserved and the parks
and related business offices which need fronting them will be improved. While the
to locate close to the Port of Manila are International Complex is relatively restricted,
allowed into' tne commercial/business this zone is wide open for public use and
section of the district; appreciation. All new buildings 'to be built
• All the schools in Intramuros will have to and/or remodelled will sport the Spanish-
move out of the area; colonial architecture of their decade.
• At least 90 percent of foreign embassies/
legations and their units are willing to
C. Commercial/Business Section
locate within the international complex
as well as international and regional The area bounded by Cabildo, Anda,
organizations' offices, like ILO, UNESCO, Muralla Streets and the Pasig ,River is
ESCAP,ASEAN, etc; and designed as the commercial/business
• Sufficient resources are available for the section. This section will include the banks,
proposed development. shipping offices, tele-communications
offices, service shops, boutiques, restau-
rants, fast food center, shopping mall, a
Proposed Physical Development for moviehouse, and the supermarket which will
Intramuros primarily serve the international community
Intramuros covers a total area of 94 hec- and other establishments in the area.
tares, 58 hectares inside and 36 hectares
outside the walls. For development pur- D. Government Center
poses, the planning area is divided into six
zones: All government offices which have fre-
quent contacts and interactions with foreign
A. International Complex
B. Historical/Cultural Zone governments and foreign organizations will
C. Commercial/Business Section locate in this mini-government center within
D. Government Section Intramuros. These are the Office of the
Protocol, Ofice of Consular Affairs, Office of
E. Residential Zone
UN Affairs, and International Organizations,
F. Sunken Garden
the ASEAN Secretariat, the Bureau of
Foreign Trade Office and a Philippine Dis-
A. International Complex (Inco)
play House, and the Ministry of Labor's Over-
Inside the International Complex (INCo) seas Employment Development Board
are the embassies, the International Center (OEDB). The four MFA Offices above will be
Building (IC Building), the State Guest housed at one of the two -new buildings of
House (SGH), the Ecumenical Center (EC), Bulletin Today; the other bUilding will be
45
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
PLANNING NEW.S
The Philippines sent a delegation to the (National Housing Authority); and Mr.
Sixth Session of the Governing Council of Rogello Lorenzo(UNAICDFA).
the United Nations Environment Program Among the items discussed during the
(UNEP), which was held In Nairobi, Kenya meeting were: the report on the state of the
from 9-25 May 1978. global environment, the United Nations Ha-
bitat and Human Settlements Foundation,
The delegation was composed of the Am- the draft principle of conduct for the guid·
bassador to Kenya, Pablo Araque; Dr. Celso ance of states with shared natural resources,
Roque (NEPC); Director Veronica Villa· the regional seas program, a technical
Vicencio (Human Settlements Commission); assistance clearinghouse, and guidelines on
Dean Leandro Viloria (U.P. Institute of En· reducing the adverse environmental impact
vironmental Planning); Dr. Josefina Ramos of specific industries.
47
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
PLANNING NEWS
. In its effort to upgrade and strengthen the lands from 4 October 1977·to 30 June 1978
graduate courses, the Institute, through the under a UNESCO fellowship grant.
staff development program, has been con- He was followed by Renato· L. Cerdei'ta,
tinually sending and encouraging faCUlty and a Senior Research Assistant, who left for the
research staff members to undertake Technical University of Dresden, German
academic studiesand/or short-term training Democratic Republic to participate in the
courses either here or abroad.This yearthree International Postgraduate Training Course
staff members received fellowship grants In .Ecosystem Management from 2 October
from European countries. . 1978to 27July 1979.
AlexQ. Cabanilia, an Instructor, also left
The first to go was Ernesto M. Serote, a' for thelnternatlonat tnstltute.tor Aerial Sur-
Research Associate, to attend the nine- vey and. Earth Sciences at the !.T.C. In
month Postgraduate Course in Multl·discl· Enschede, the Netherlands, to pursue a Post-
plinary Investigations for Development Plan- graduate Course 01) MUlti-disciplinary Inves-
ning and Implementation at the International tigation for Development Planning for nine-
Institute for Aerial Survey and Earth sclen- months starting 3 October 1978 under fel-a
cesat the !.T.C. in Enschede, the Nether- lowship grant from the Dutch government. ;
48
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
PLANNING NEWS
PDsENACTED
The follOWing are presidential decrees its powers and functions, and for other
enacted from November 1977 to October purposes
1978which planners may fin~ significant: • P.D. No. 1269: Further amending A.A. 6234
'entitled, "An act creating the Metropolitan
• Presidential Decree No. 1216: Defining Waterworks and Sewerage System and
"open space" in residential subdivisions for other purposes", as amended by P.O.
and amending Section 31 of P.O. No. 957 No. 425
requiring subdivision owners to provide • P.D. No. 1274: Amending P.O. No. 824 en-
roads, alleys, sidewalks and reserve open , titled, "Creating the Metropolitan Manila
space for parks or recreation use and the Metropolitan Manila Commission
• P.D. No. 1217: Extending benefits provided ,and for other purposes ..
. under P.O. No. 745 not only to employees • P.D. No. 1277: Providing preservation of
or workers but to low-income families in the walls of Intramuros and the restora-
general (re low-cost housing) tion of its original moat and esplanade.
• P,D. No. 1259: Amending paragraph 1,2 & • P.D. No. 1298: Implementing the Rural In....
3 of P.O. No. '1224, further defining the trastructure Project
policy on the expropriation of private pro- • P.D. No. 1308: Regulating the practice of
perty for socialized housing upon pay- the profession of environmental planning
ment of just compensation in the Philippines
• P.D. No. 1261: Amending R.A. 2616, pro- • P,D. No. 1313: Further amending paragraph
vidlng additional funds for the acqulsl- '3 of P.O. No. 1224as amended by P.O. No.
tlon of the Tatalon Estate and designating ·1259, defining the policy on the expro-
the National Housing Authority as the priation of private poverty for socialized
administrator of the Tatalon Estate Hous- housing upon payment of just compensa-
.lngProject tion
• P.D. No. 1265: Creating the Metropolitan • P.D. No. 1314: Repealing P.O. No. 814, reo
Manila Traffic Management Authority defining the policies on land tenure in the
• P.D. No. 1267: Creating a National Home Tendo Foreshore Dagat-Dagatan Urban
'Mortgage Finance Corporation, defining Development Project
49
PHILIPPINE PLANNING JOURNAL
PLANNING NEWS
The second batch of MURP graduates The new graduates include: Rolando A.
numbered twenty-seven this year. Twelve Alanes, Ma. Filomena A. Alforque, Serafin M.
graduates chose housing as their area of Aqui.no JII, Athena F. Azarcon, Norma B.
specialization; nine selected regional loca- Bernal, Rodino G. Bernardo, Zenaida B.
tion; and six others opted for transportation. Cuenca, Celestino F. Desamito, Jr., Omar
Victoria V. loanzon and Eleanor S. Guer- Maxwell P. Espina, Eleanor S. Guerrero, Jose
rero, with housing as their specialization, E. lao, Victoria V. Laonzon, Eric C. lopez,
successfUlly detended their theses en- Erlinda H. Luis, Anna M. Malvar, Ruby C.
titled, Towards a New Approach to Better- Mangulabnan, Conchita Estella C. Manong-
ment Changes, and Housing Needs of Selec- do, Jesus B. Marzan, Alfredo R. Matolo, Mi-
ted Single Employees in an Area in Makati, chael I. Molina, Hobson Emeka Nnebe, Ma.
respectively. Gil R. Ramos also successfully Erlinda B. Padilla, Gil R. Ramos, Alma D.
defended his thesis on regional location en- Recio, Eduardo U. Taala, Renato P. Tron-
titled, A New Approach to Financing Indus- cates, and Manuel B. Urdelas.
trIal Starts in the Philippine Countryside:
A Proposal.
The closing of the ten-month Special Caragayan (BOl, Region IV), Restituto dela
Course in Urban and Regional Planning was Cruz (BOl, Central Office), Lazarus Digal
held on 31 March 1978at the Institute of En- (BOl, Region X), Jose Donato (DEC), Abelar-
vironmental Planning. The theme of this do de leon (DEC), Arthur Manalo (BOl, Cen-
year's course was on land resource develop- tral Office), Agaton Manga (BOl, Region III),
ment and management, with Naic, Cavite Merlinda Manampan (NEDA, Region XII),
serving as their laboratory town. Ricardo Mendoza (DAR), Glenn Navera(DAR,
Director of Training, Prof. Tito C. Firma- Region V), Felix Cal Ortiz (BOl, Region V),
Iino, awarded the certificates to the twenty- Irma Pabalan (DAR), Renato Paraggua (BOl,
two successful participants who include: Central Office), Rogelio Perena (NEDA, Re-
Blanvenlda Angco (PDS, Tagbilaran City), gion IV), Jose Ping-ay (NEDA, Region I), Is-
Oscar Balbastro (NEDA, Region IV-A), Er- mael Rivera (BOl, Region IV-A), Felipe To-
nesto Bolivar (BOl, Region IV-A), Ernesto lentino (BOl, Central Office), and Raquel
Cabilitazan (BOl, Central Office), Regina VBlanueva (BOl, Region XII).
50
PHILIPPINE PLANNIN(3 JOURNAL
NOTE:
Due to delays in the printing of the
Journal, conflicts in the dates of
articles with the date of publication
cannot be helped. Our apologies.
-Editorial Staff
52