1. 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.

2.  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

3.  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

4.  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.

5.  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

6.  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

7.  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

8.  World War II
 Largely demolished
at the end of World
War II
 Burnham plan was
revived but lacked
support
 Uncoordinated
reconstruction

9.  Post-war
 Characterized by the
proliferation of
suburban
developments
northwards
(Caloocan),
southwards (Pasay)
and eastward (Quezon
City, San Juan,
Mandaluyong)

10.  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

11.  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

12.  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

13.  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

14.  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.

15.  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

16.  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

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