PUERTO PRINCESA CITY’S CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD) 2

THE NEW DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ELEMENTS

A Research paper
presented from the
Architecture Department of
Palawan State University

In partial fulfillment
of the requirements in
Community Development Planning

Presented by:

Camson, John Jake J.

Gavilaga, Roy Clydee A.

Laguisma, Edhel Mae P.

Yapparcon, Novee Joyce F.

December 2018
I. INTRODUCTION

As mandated in the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA1760), the City

Government of Puerto Princesa prepared and revised its own Comprehensive Land Use
Plan (CLUP) in order to serve as a primary guide for the management of land, water, and
other natural resources of the city, having the Zoning Ordinance as its principal
implementing tool.

Primarily included in this development is the Urban Area which was hereby divided
into two districts namely: the Central Business District (CBD) and the remaining peripheral
portion of the urban area which is the Non-CBD Periphery.

Focusing on the city’s business and commercial growth, the urge to develop the
old and new portions of the urban area is the reason why the CBD is built considering the
consistent spatial strategy that was put into it. Based on the City’s CLUP, the CBD is now
expanded to embrace both the old CBD and new market site in Barangay San Jose and
all areas in between which lie within the influence zones of the national highway; both
North and South Road.

The CBD is the most accessible part of the city, it owns a high accessibility to
highest property values. The desire of businesses establishments to access the widest
possible range of maximum profitability fits well enough as to where the range of location
of the CBD is. As to how wide the range of the CBD is, the external boundary of the new
zoning has been defined based on the city’s CLUP as follows:

“From a point of origin at the City Wharf moving clockwise through to the Baywalk
thence to a line 200 m from and parallel to Malvar St. until it intersects the National
Highway, then follows San Jose Seminary St., barangay boundary of Tiniguiban
continuing to the Government Center boundary, then through Mitra Road up to the
boundary of barangay San Jose, thence through a straight line 1 km away from and
parallel to the National Highway until it intersects WesCom Road, then follows the first lot
boundaries along the National Highway through the western end of the airport runway
until it intersects Rizal Ave., then through Rizal Ave. to the intersection with Abrea St.,
follows Abrea St. up to its intersection with Manalo St., thence through Manalo St. to
Sandoval St., then to Taft St. until it intersects Rizal Ave., and finally through Rizal Ave.
and back to the point of origin at the City Wharf.”
Hence based on the figure shown, CBD stretches from the Old Poblacion up to the
New Downtown Area which includes most large business establishments as observed for
the following years to come.
 Figure 1.1 The New Central Business District

As a new CBD is being observed and developed, researchers will focus on

identifying the community’s structure elements, particularly the New Downtown Area
which is also called as the Central Business District 2 and which is also the largest area
for the new CBD as based on the city’s CLUP.
 Figure 1.2 The New Downtown Area – Central Business District 2

By roaming around the said district, researchers determined the community’s

structure elements, took pictures of it and reconsidered as to which element it is classified.
The 5 classified elements are as follows: paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmark.
II. CBD 2’s COMMUNITY STRUCTURE ELEMENTS
Based on Kevin Lynch’s ‘Image of the City,’ researchers have specifically identified
CBD 2’s 5 classified elements; paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmark, altogether
create a larger picture of what’s within the community area and how it forms it’s
community structure.
1. PATHS
These are channels along which the observer moves. They also arrange
and relate other elements for the reason that they are easily identifiable, have
continuity and direction, and are always aligned with a larger system. Best
examples would be roads, highways, streets, and railroads. At CBD 2, the 2 major
paths which converge with each other is the North and South National Highways.

South (Left) and North (Right) Puerto Princesa Highways

Other paths within CBD 2 includes streets leading from one place to
another, path walks along the major roads and the like.

Paths in CBD 2. Sidewalk along Adventist Hospital Palawan (Upper Left),

Robinsons Place Palawan Road (Upper Right), Palawan State University Hostel Road
(Lower Left) and San Manuel Road (Lower Right)
2. EDGES
These are linear elements that are not considered as paths for the reason
that they have lateral references and not coordinate axes. They may be barriers or
seams, not as dominant as paths, and can be disruptive to the community’s form
but are considered as an important organizing feature because it’s usually
prominent, continuous, and impenetrable to cross movement. Examples may be
building facades and mostly bodies of water. CBD’s 2 specific edge is along the
South Puerto Princesa Highway where a near seashore can be seen at Palawan
State University Campus as indicated on the map below. Corresponding pictures
taken by the researchers are as follows.

Edge by the seashore at Palawan State University Campus bounded with fences
3. DISTRICT
It is a medium to large section of a community where it is conceived as a
two-dimensional and the observer can mentally enter “inside of.” It can be
recognizable enough having some common identifying character depending on the
district’s characteristic which can be based on the following: activity and use,
building types and details, inhabitants whether they are ethnic or class, and
physical characteristics itself (topography, boundaries, age, etc.). Having CBD as
a district itself, researchers put into consideration instead to show the details as to
why it is a district as shown on the pictures below.

Central Business District 2 – The New Downtown Area

4. NODES
These are strategic spots by which the observer can enter and the intensive
foci from which the observer is travelling. They are junctions and may be thematic
concentrations unto which they are directly related also to the concept of paths and
the concept of district. Examples may be forums, plazas, malls, and market places.
CBD 2 has numerous nodes given by the map also that the new market place
located at Bgy. San Jose is included in the district’s premises. Terminals are also
included that are located at the market place and malls as well, specifically
Robinsons Place Palawan.

CBD 2 Nodes. Robinsons Place Palawan Terminal (Upper Left), New Market at
Bgy. San Jose (Upper Right) New Market Terminal at Bgy. San Jose (Lower Left)
Caltex Gas Station at Jollibee Drive-thru (Lower Right)
5. LANDMARKS
They are point references considered to be external to the observer where
its physical elements may vary widely in scale. It establishes unique and special
attributes that indicates as a traveling guide also. Based on the map shown below,
researchers identified that the complexes of City Hall and the Sports Center are
landmarks. As well as the largest university campus on the district which is the
Palawan State University.
REFERENCES:

Ponce de Leon, W. R. (2012) A City Paradise. Puerto Princesa History from

http://puertoprincesa.ph/?q=basicpage/city-paradise

The Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance of Puerto Princesa City (2013-
2014)

Center for the Designed Environment Professions – Site Planning and Urban Design