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From Tribal Village To Primate City: The Making of A Metropolis

The document discusses the development of Metro Manila from a tribal village to a major metropolitan area. It traces the growth over centuries under Spanish colonial rule, the American period, World War 2, and recent decades. Metro Manila grew rapidly in the postwar period and now contains over 20 million people across its cities and municipalities, though managing its ongoing growth remains a challenge.

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JOMARI DL. GAVINO
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68 views17 pages

From Tribal Village To Primate City: The Making of A Metropolis

The document discusses the development of Metro Manila from a tribal village to a major metropolitan area. It traces the growth over centuries under Spanish colonial rule, the American period, World War 2, and recent decades. Metro Manila grew rapidly in the postwar period and now contains over 20 million people across its cities and municipalities, though managing its ongoing growth remains a challenge.

Uploaded by

JOMARI DL. GAVINO
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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From tribal village to primate city: the making of a metropolis

Nathaniel von Einsiedel


Fellow, Phil. Institute of Environmental Planners
Fellow, United Architects of the Philippines
Chairman, 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 Walled City of Intramuros
roots of an urban form
were established
 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 Traces of Burnham’s Plan
becoming congested in
1939
 Pres. Quezon
commissioned planning
and subsequent
development of lands east
of Manila (now Quezon
City)

Port of Manila, American Period


 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 Einsiedel
Consultants for Comprehensive Environmental Planning
1856 Asuncion St. Santiago Village Makati
(632) 895-1812
concepinc@gmail.com

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