CHAPTER 1: The Envisioned City of Quezon

1.1 THE ENVISIONED CITY OF QUEZON

Quezon City was conceived in a vision of a man incomparable - the late President Manuel Luis
Quezon – who dreamt of a central place that will house the country’s highest governing body and will
provide low-cost and decent housing for the less privileged sector of the society. He envisioned the
growth and development of a city where the common man can live with dignity

“I dream of a capital city that, politically shall be the seat of the national government;
aesthetically the showplace of the nation--- a place that thousands of people will come and
visit as the epitome of culture and spirit of the country; socially a dignified concentration of
human life, aspirations and endeavors and achievements; and economically as a
productive, self-contained community.”
--- President Manuel L. Quezon

Equally inspired by this noble quest for a new metropolis, the National Assembly moved for
the creation of this new city. The first bill was filed by Assemblyman Ramon P. Mitra with the new
city proposed to be named as “Balintawak City”. The proposed name was later amended on the
motion of Assemblymen Narciso Ramos and Eugenio Perez, both of Pangasinan to “Quezon City”.

1.2 THE CREATION OF QUEZON CITY

On September 28, 1939 the National Assembly approved Bill No. 1206 as Commonwealth Act
No. 502, otherwise known as the Charter of Quezon City. Signed by President Quezon on October 12,
1939, the law defined the boundaries of the city and gave it an area of 7,000 hectares carved out of
the towns of Caloocan, San Juan, Marikina, Pasig, and Mandaluyong, all in Rizal Province. The law
likewise specified the manner in which the city was to be governed. All the city officials were to be
appointed by the President with President Quezon himself being the first acting Mayor. He served
from October 12 to November 4, 1939, after which Tomas Morato, then Mayor of Calauag, Tayabas,
was appointed as his successor.

The original physical plan of the City, which was prepared in 1940 by Harry T. Frost,
architectural adviser of the Commonwealth, reflect a big quadrangle in the heart of the City from
which four (4) avenues radiate toward the outskirts with rotundas placed on the four (4) corners, the
largest being the 26–hectare elliptical center, now known as the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Progress in Quezon City continued until the outbreak of World War II on December 8, 1941.
Just before the Japanese occupied the city, President Quezon issued Executive Order No. 400, dated
January 1, 1942, incorporating Quezon City with Greater Manila for synchronized and coordinated
activity in such time of emergency. Under the order, the Mayors of Quezon City, San Juan,
Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Caloocan and Makati became the assistants to the Mayor of Greater Manila,
who at that time was Jorge Vargas. However, when Mayor Morato was arrested by the Japanese in
mid-1942, Dr. Florencio Cruz then City Health Officer was installed as Chief of the City (being a
district of Greater Manila) until liberation.

As soon as the war was over, in April 1945, the Secretary of Interior Tomas Confesor
designated Oscar Castelo, who was then an Assistant Fiscal of Manila, as Acting Mayor of Quezon City,
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and therefore, Assistant to the Mayor of Manila Juan Nolasco. The house of President Quezon on
Gilmore Avenue was used by Castelo as temporary office of the city government.

Capt. Sabino de Leon, former Quezon City Police Chief, was designated as Acting Assistant
Mayor of Quezon City on October 1, 1945 while Castelo returned to his job as Assistant City Fiscal of
Manila. Capt. De Leon moved the city government offices to a market site along South 9th Street near
Sampaloc Avenue (now the site of Roces High School). Quezon City regained its separate political
existence from Greater Manila on January 2, 1947 by virtue of Republic Act No. 45. Ponciano A.
Bernardo was appointed City Mayor.3.1.1 Population Size and Growth Rate

1.3 QUEZON CITY AS THE CAPITAL CITY

Upon assumption of office of President Manuel A. Roxas as the first president of the second
Philippine Republic in 1946, he announced his intention to restore Quezon City as a regular
chartered city. Various sectors declared their protests by citing the city’s economic and financial
bankruptcy, dismal health and sanitary conditions, and high rate of criminality during the post-war
period.

On July 25, 1946, President Roxas, created a committee that would study the selection of the
official capital of the Philippines. By virtue of Administrative Order No. 5, the Selection Committee
was given the task of “selection of the most suitable site on which to build the capital city of the
Philippines and the capitol building/s”. Then Senator Melecio Arranz, who was appointed committee
head, declare d that Manila, although inevitably a key point in the selection of the capital city site, has
“become undesirable as a national capital” due to postwar damages, congestion of commercial
activities, and government and military requirements, among others. On the other hand, the city of
Quezon had worked on the reparation of post-war vestiges.

The selection process underwent series of extensive studies, researches, discussions, and
public hearings which primarily focused on the following considerations: “general sanitation, public
works development, strategic considerations, scenic beauty, and administrative coordination.” Out of
the sixteen (16) nominated sites, three sites emerged as the top choices: IpoNovaliches area; Baguio;
and, Quezon City-Novaliches. The contiguous areas of Ipo-Quezon City-Novaliches proved to be the
ideal choice for the nation’s capital and still garnered the highest composite average rating over the
second placer Baguio. Thus, the Arranz Selection Committee concluded: “…the area now covered by
Quezon City extending northward along Marikina River to the upper limits of Novaliches reservoir
watershed, [and] West to the boundary line…comprising an approximate total area of 16,200
hectares…one-fourth of which is owned by the Government, is the best…[site] to be made as the
Capital City of the Republic.”

The committee also cited the following advantages of the City as the choice nation’s capital:
 “[The City’s] proximity to Manila, the best port of entry from foreign countries and the
commercial and financial center of the country…;
 Its accessibility from all the important inhabited areas in the Philippines either by land, air, sea;
 Its already available conveniences from the standpoint of a municipal entity…[-as an organized
and partially developed chartered city];
 Its public works facilities with regard to the provision of water supply, easy drainage, availability
of power and proximity to commercial, industrial, and manufacturing establishments engaged in
the sale, production, and distribution of construction materials and equipment;
 Its geological qualities, which provide a satisfactory foundation for buildings and other structures,
at the same time allowing the construction of underground structures;

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 Its larger area of government-owned land right in its central zone which will permit a substantial
economy in the development of public improvements as well as more freedom and liberal
assignments for streets, parks, and playground areas;
 Its healthfulness due to its elevation (it averages about 250feet above sea level) together with the
availability of an abundant and wholesome water supply and excellent drainage which are the
most important requirements for the development of modern cities; and,
 Its historical background; consideration of public expenditures already made; administrative
commitments and evident public support.”

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 However, before the selection was made, President Roxas died of heart attack in Clark Field,
Pampanga. It was President Elpidio R. Quirino, his successor, who signed Republic Act No. 333 on
July 17, 1948, which made Quezon City the capital of the Philippines. The Act created the Capital City
Planning Commission to prepare the general development plan and supervise the improvements to
be done in the Capital City. Archt. Juan Arellano headed the architectural division of the Commission
while Mayor Bernardo handled public relations. After almost one year, on April 8, 1949, the Master
Plan was signed by President Quirino. It further stipulated “the appropriation of funds for the
acquisition of private estates within the boundary limits of the city, and authorized the issuance of
bonds… for the construction of streets, bridges, waterworks, sewerage…” and other city
improvements.

In July 1947, the City Hall building was constructed along Highway 54 (now Epifanio delos
Santos Avenue or EDSA) on what used to be the site of the pre-war public market. It was occupied in
February 1948, housing all the city government’s offices and departments with the exception of the
police department.

Quezon City was formally inaugurated as the national capital of the Philippines on October 12,
1949. President Quirino laid the cornerstone of the proposed Capitol Building at Constitution Hills.
The Welcome Arch (now Mabuhay Rotunda) at the boundary of Manila and Quezon City was built;
the construction of Roxas Homesite by the Philippine Homesite and Housing Corporation, consisting
of 1,104 housing units on an area of 40 hectares, started

The City’s territorial boundaries were revised four times since its creation on October 12,
1939. Originally, Quezon City had only about 7,000 hectares extending from La Loma to Marikina
River and from Pasong Tamo River down to (and including) Wack Wack Golf Club in Mandaluyong. It
was first amended in 1941 by Commonwealth Act 659 which returned the portions west of Marikina
River to Marikina, a reduction of about 500 hectares. After the war, Republic Act 333 dated July 17,
1948 which declared the City as the National Capital, incorporated the areas of Novaliches and
Payatas thereby greatly increasing the territory by more than double: from 6,500 hectares to 15,660.
A third revision which decreased the City’s area by about 300 hectares was made in 1950 by RA 537
when parts of the territory east of Marikina River were given back to Montalban and San Mateo, as
well as Wack Wack and Camp Crame to Mandaluyong and San Juan, respectively.

The final amendment was made on June 16, 1956 by virtue of RA 1575 which again reduced
the City’s area by 260 hectares from 15,359 to 15,106 hectares, when areas west of Marikina River
were again reverted to Montalban and San Mateo even as Camp Crame was reintegrated to the City.
This is the present official territorial boundary of Quezon City. However, graphical plots made on this
present boundary of the city gave an area of 16,112 hectares, about 1,000 hectares more than the
officially declared land area

Table H-1: Changes in Land Areas of Quezon City

Commonwealth Commonwealth Republic Act Republic Act

Republic Act 537
Act 502 Act 659 333 537
Date Approved October 12, 1939 June 21, 1941 June 17, 1950 June 16, 1950 June 16, 1956
15,106 Has.*
Land Area 7,006 has.* 6,497 has* 15,660 has. 15,359 has
16,112 has*
* Figures obtained thru graphical computations only
** Based on 1995 GIS graphical plot

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1.4 CHANGING FORTUNES OF QUEZON CITY

For twenty-seven (27) years, Quezon City held the distinct status of being the nation’s capital.
However, two Presidential Decrees issued by President Ferdinand E. Marcos would have
substantially changed the political stature and landscape of the city.

Presidential Decree 824 authorized the creation of the Metropolitan Manila and Metropolitan
Manila Commission which would exercise territorial and political jurisdiction over seventeen (17)
municipalities and cities, including Quezon City. The Decree was deemed necessary due to “rapid
growth of population and…of social and economic requirements in the contiguous communities”.
Too, the Decree served to address the imperative for integrated development, service delivery, and
management in terms of peace and order and eradication of social and economic ills which were
considered then as among the reform measures under Martial Law.

It was around this period and under the leadership of appointed mayor Norberto S.
Amoranto, that the city attained an impressive performance record in terms of financial standing,
delivery of services, particularly that of medical and health services, establishment of buildings, and
community beautification projects which were also supported by then First Lady Imelda R. Marcos.

On June 24, 1976, then President Marcos issued Presidential Decree (PD) 940, which
effectively conferred back the role of the nation’s capital to the City of Manila and mandated the area
prescribed under PD 824 as Metropolitan Manila, now known as the National Capital Region (NCR),
to be the permanent seat of national government.

Three months prior to this declaration, Quezon City set another record by having the first
lady chief executive appointed to office after Mayor Amoranto resigned from his post. Mayor Adelina
S. Rodriguez then led the city during the transition towards the period when it was no longer the
nation’s capital. During her first year in office, Mayor Rodriguez formulated the nowfamous City
Development Program, which functioned as basis for integrating problem solution. She underscored
the importance of the city’s mandate in terms of employment generation and delivery of basic
services despite limited resources. With the successful implementation of the city’s Seven-Point
Management Program that would bring about “community awareness and consciousness of
maintaining ecological balance”, the city also recorded significant improvements in terms of income
generation and crime reduction.

A Letter of Instruction (LOI) No. 473 was issued by President Marcos and under which the
Constitution Hills and Reclamation Areas, both situated in Quezon City, were designated as the site of
the country’s parliamentary building or the Batasang Bayan and other government offices, such as
Department of Education and Culture (DEC) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Indeed, even as Quezon City was no longer the capital city, it proved to be a vast and teeming
city which by then attained a steadily increasing income and occupied one-third of Metro Manila’s
total land area. It has implemented its development plan and served as the government center with
the national legislature and other important government offices located in its area.

All of these are reminiscent of the same noble dream that brought forth the creation of the
City

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1.5 CAPITALIZING ON THE “QUEZON CITY” VISION

The original vision of President Quezon for the City became the thread that weave and will
continue to weave a very vibrant and rich past, present, and future for the city.

Important people, places, and events that shaped the course of history in the struggle for
freedom and sovereignty including the “Cry of Pugad Lawin” led by the Great Plebeian and
revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio, the People Power Revolution in EDSA that toppled the regime
of President Marcos and the installation of President Corazon Aquino under the restored democracy
took place in areas that now comprise the city.

Currently, Quezon City is the largest among the Metropolitan Manila’s cities in terms of
population and land area. The “Quezon dream-vision” continues to guide efforts for the attainment of
a progressive and peaceful, clean and orderly place conducive and hospitable to living, employment,
and business, “A Quality Community that is Quezon City”.

Effective fiscal management, aggressive tax management strategies, increasing efficiency and
growing discipline in the management and use of resources as well as participatory governance have
made Quezon City one of the most competitive cities in the Philippines today. In particular, the city
recorded the highest net income in the Philippines, produced an annual budget surplus averaging
P307 million for seven consecutive years from 2002 thru 2008, and earned an income of P8.02 billion
in 2008. The City takes pride in its strong economic viability and financial standing, rational
development of systems to curb graft, rigid budgeting process that considers the city’s development
planning strategies and priorities and the most pressing needs of its constituents.

The city has also achieved various firsts in many areas such as computerized revenue
collection and assessment system, fiscal control and capability building in the barangay level, various
environmental and solid waste management programs, women and children protection, and
institutionalization of citizen participation in governance thru the City Development Council.

Due to its achievements and innovations, Quezon City was recognized and cited for the
dynamism of its local economy, the quality of life of its residents and the responsiveness of the local
government in addressing business needs, among others. In 2007, Quezon City took the 7th place in
the “Asian City of the Future” survey commissioned by the London Financial Times. In a 2008
Tholons Global Outsourcing and Investments special report, the city ranked as the number 21
emerging global outsourcing city, the highest among all nine new entrants.

The city manifests the same criteria for the nation’s capital being at the center of trade,
commerce, education and culture, seat of the national government, modern transportation,
communication and accommodation facilities and other physical attributes of a modern city

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HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS : 1938 - 2019
1896
AUGUST 23, 1896
1938 Andress Bonifacio and his men tear
their cedulas at Pugad Lawin, found
within the territorial jurisdiction of the
OCTOBER 10, 1938 future city, and ignite the Filipino
The People’s Homesite Corporation
purchases 1,529 hectares from the vast
Revolution against Spain
1939
Diliman Estate of the Tuazon Family as site
for the future capital city
1943 SEPTEMBER 28, 1939
The Philippine National
Assembly approves Bill
OCTOBER 12, 1939
Pres. Manuel L. Quezon
signs into Law the
NOVEMBER 10, 1939
Tomas Morato is sworn
into Office as Mayor of
No. 1206 as Commonwealth Act No. Quezon City
MARCH 11, 1943 Commonwealth Act 502, officially establishing
Assemblyman Guillermo Villanueva of Negros proposing the creation of Quezon City and assumes
Oriental files a bill seeking to make Quezon Quezon City the position of Mayor in a
City the seat of government of the Philippines concurrent capacity 1945
1946 DECEMBER 17, 1945
Pres. Sergio S. Osmena issues Proclamation No. 32 launching the
JULY 25, 1946 JANUARY 1, 1946 nationwide campaign to raise funds for the erection of a national
President Roxas, creates a committee Ponciano Bernardo is appointed monument in honor of Pres. Quezon
for the selection of a new official
capital of the Philippines. The
committee was headed by then
Mayor of Quezon City by Pres. Osmena
1948
Senator Melecio Arranz
JULY 17, 1948
1949 Pres. Elpidio R. Quirino signs Republic Act No. 333, which
declares Quezon City as the new capital of the Republic

MAY 4, 1949 OCTOBER 12, 1949 1950

QUEZON CITY
Nicanor Roxas is appointed Quezon City isformally inaugurated as
Mayor of the City the national capital of the Philippines
on. The cornerstone of the proposed JANUARY 6, 1950 JUNE 16, 1950
Capitol Building is laid at Constitution Ignacio Santos Diaz The City Charter is revised
1954 Hills replaces Nicanor Roxas as
Quezon City Mayor
by Republic Act No. 537
which decreased the city’s

FEBRUARY 4, 1954
area
1956
President Ramon Magsaysay formally
appoints Norberto S. Amoranto as JUNE 16, 1956
acting Mayor of Quezon City. The City Charter is revised by Republic Act No. 537, radically
changing the geographic composition and extending the city’s
1972 boundaries to its present land area of 15,106 hectares

NOVEMBER 30, 1972 1975

The 1971 Constitutional Convention is
held in Quezon City. NOVEMBER 7, 1975
Presidential Decree No. 824 of Pres. Ferdinand E.
1976 Marcos is promulgated. The Decree established
Metropolitan Manila which covered 17 cities
/municipalities including Quezon City

1978
JUNE 24, 1976 MARCH 31, 1976
Presidential Decree No. 940, issued by Adelina Rodriguez, known to be the
President Marcos, confers the capital city first lady mayor, succeeds Norberto
title back to Manila and designates S. Amoranto, who resigns as Mayor
of Quezon City MARCH 31, 1978
theareas covered by Metro Manila to be Pres Marcos declares 1978 as Manuel L. Quezon centenial
the permanent seat of government. Year and orders the transfer of the remains of Pres
1980 Quezon from the Manila North Cemetery to the Quezon
Memorial Circle Monument within the Quezon Elliptical
Road
JANUARY 1980
In the first local elections after martial
law, Adelina Rodriguezand Stephen
Sarino are elected Mayor and Vice
1986
Mayor, respectively
1988 FEBRUARY 22-25, 1986
Quezon City is the site of the
EDSA “People Power
FEBRUARY 2, 1988
Brigido Simon, Jr. and Vicente Sotto
are sworn into office as duly elected
1989 Revolution”

1992 Mayor and Vice Mayor, respectively. FEBRUARY 22-25, 1986

1995
Quezon City is the site of the
EDSA “People Power
JULY 1, 1992 Revolution”
Ismael A. Mathay Jr., is elected Mayor
1998 with Charito Planas as vice Mayor. MAY 8, 1995
The people of Quezon City give Mayor Mathay
another mandate , Herbert Bautista is elected Vice
FEBRUARY 23, 1998
President Fidel V. Ramos signs
MAY 11, 1998
Mayor Mathay is re-elected for his
Mayor
1999
Republic Act 8535 which provided for third and final term. His running mate
the creation of the City of Novaliches Connie Angeles is elected Vice Mayor OCTOBER 23, 1999
comprising the 15 northernmost In a plebiscite, an overwhelming
barangays of Quezon City. majority of Quezon City residents
rejects RA 8553 or the secession of
2001 Novaliches from Quezon City

JULY 1, 2001
2004
Feliciano S. Belmonte, Jr. assumes
office as elected Mayor with
2007 JULY 1, 2004
Mayor Belmonte and Vice Mayor
Herbert Bautista as Vice Mayor Bautista wins fresh mandate from
JULY 1, 2007
their constituents
2010 Mayor Belmonte and Vice-Mayor Bautista serves
for their third consecutive terms
2013
Herbert Bautista wins his first term as QC
mayor with Joy Belmonte as vice-mayor. The Mayor Bautista and Vice Mayor Belmonte gets

2014 city sets key programs in social housing,

environmental management, and DRR.
reelected in the office. QC formally activates the
QCDRRMO tasked to respond to situations brought
about by natural of human-made induced disasters 2015
Celebrates its 75th Founding

2017
Anniversary. Garner awards in labor and employment, local
legislation , dynamic economy, and GIS among

On the national front, Quezon City 2018 many others

2019 has merited the Seal of Good Local

Governance For the third time in a row,
Quezon City was ranked the Most
Competitive City in the
Josefina Alimurong-Belmonte wins the 2019 Philippines,
Mayoralty race with Gian Sotto as Vice-Mayor

NORTH AVE QUEZON

MEMORIA
L CIRCLE
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