SETTLEMENT PLANNING

in the PHILIPPINES
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Pre-colonial
Times
- Like other cities in the world the earliest Filipino
communities developed out of the need for their
inhabitants to band together.

- They were formed for security, or to be close to

critical resources like food and water. Most of
the earliest towns were by the coast for the
fisherfolk or were where there was abundant
agricultural land for the farmers.
- The community unit was the barangay, consisting
of 30 to 100 families.
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
The Spanish Colonial
Times
Laws of the Indies
- In 1573, King Philip II proclaimed the Laws of the
Indies that established uniform standards and
planning procedures for colonial settlements.
- These laws provided guidelines for site selection,
layout and dimensioning of streets and squares,
the location of civic and religious buildings,
open space, cultivation and pasturing lands,
and even the main procedural phases of
planning and construction.
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
- The Plaza Complex-
a result of several
ordinances of the
Laws of the Indies.
- The plaza is
surrounded by
important buildings
such as the:
Catholic church
Municipal or town hall
Marketplace and merchant’s
stores
Elementary school
The homes of the “principalia”
Other government buildings
Settlement Planning in the Phils.

Intramuros

- The walled city of Manila

- 1.2 sq. KM in area; perimeter is 3.4 KM
- home of the Spanish (except for the Friars & the
high ranking officials)
- decentralization occurred and settlements were
built in Malate, San Miguel, and Paco, among
other areas
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
The American
The American Agenda Period
- guide urban growth and physical development
- put more emphasis on other values such as
sanitation, housing, and aesthetic improvements.
Daniel Burnham
- Architect / planner who designed Chicago, San
Francisco, and parts of Washington D.C.
Settlement Planning in the Phils.

Luneta

-Brought in to design Manila and the

“summer capital” of Baguio
 Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Burnham’s Design for Manila
- Designed with
grand avenues and
a strong central
civic core
- Included a civic
mall to house
national buildings
(only the Finance &
Agriculture buildings
were built)

- Fronted Manila Bay

like most Baroque
plans fronted a large body of water
Settlement Planning in the Phils.

Manila as the first chartered city

- On July 31, 1903, by virtue of Act No. 183, the city of
Manila was incorporated
- Manila encompassed Intramuros, and the towns of
Binondo, Tondo, Sta. Cruz, Malate, Ermita, Paco,
and Pandacan.
- The population then was 190,000 people
 Settlement Planning in the Phils.
The Arrabales
Growth of
Manila
- Quiapo- the illustrado territory; the enclave of the
rich and powerful. Also the manifestation of folk
religiosity.
- Binondo- the trading port developed by the
Chinese and Arabs
- Sta. Cruz- the main commercial district with swirls
of shops, movie houses, restaurants, etc.
- San Nicolas- also a commercial town built by the
Spanish with streets of “specialized” categories
(i.e. ceramics, soap, etc.)
- Sampaloc- centered on two churches (Our Lady of
Loreto and Saint Anthony of Padua). Also known
as the first “University Town”.
 Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Later Suburbs
- San Miguel (Malacañang)- where rest-houses
were built for the Spanish government
- Malate- the early “summer resort” of wealthy and
cultured Filipinos. Then became the first fishing
and salt-making town
- Ermita- early tourist belt (red-light district)
- Paco- first town built around a train station
- Pandacan- town built by the Americans for Oil
depots
 Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Further
Suburbanization
Quezon City as the new capitol city
-In 1939, Commonwealth Act
No. 457, authorized the
transfer of the capitol to
an area of 1572 hectares
-A master plan of Quezon City
was completed in 1941 by
Architects Juan Arellano,
Harry T. Frost, Louis Croft,
and Eng. A.D. Williams

- “City beautiful” plan reflected the aspirations of an emerging

nation and the visions of a passionate leader
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Constitution Hill
-In 1946, a search committee was
formed to find a new site
-a 158 ha area in the Novaliches
watershed was selected and
called Constitution Hill and
National Government Center
-The three seats of government
were to form a triangle at the
center of the complex
-It included a 20 hectare civic space
referred to as the Plaza of
the Republic
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Philippine Homesite and Housing Corporation
- Precursor of the National Housing Authority
- Built homes for the masses
(“the projects”, i.e. proj.4, proj. 6, etc.)

Philamlife Homes
- icon of middle class suburbanization
- Master Plan designed by Architect and Planner,
Carlos P. Arguelles, based on suburban
developments in California with modifications

BLISS (bagong lipunan sites and services)

- Walk-up developments for government sector
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Present Day Metro
City / Municipality
Manila
Population Land Area Density
Metro (yr 2000) (sq. km) (per sq. km)
City of Manila 1,619,000 38.30 42271.54
Manila Kalookan City 1,300,000 55.80 23297.49
Cities and Las Pinas City 526,000 41.50 12674.7

Municipaliti Makati City 498,000 29.00 17172.41

Mandaluyong City 323,000 26.00 12423.08
es Marikina City 381,000 38.90 9794.344
population, Muntinlupa City 527,000 46.70 11284.8

area, and Paranaque City 458,000 38.30 11958.22

density Pasay City 415,000 13.90 29856.12

Pasig City 518,000 31.00 16709.68
Quezon City 2,250,000 166.20 13537.91
Valenzuela City 528,000 47.00 11234.04
Malabon 414,000 23.4 17692.31
Navotas 266,000 8.90 29887.64
Pateros 55,000 2.10 26190.48
San Juan 111,000 4.50 24666.67
Taguig 497,000 33.70 14747.77
Total 10,686,000 645.2 16562.31
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
Metro Manila Central Business Districts
- Manila CBD- this traditional CBD is a center of
business and commerce, has a population
nucleus, and seats the national government
- Makati CBD- a business, financial, commercial,
convention, and recreational center of the
Metropolitan Region covering an area of 979
hectares. Begun by the Ayala conglomerate in
1948.
- Ortigas CBD- another business, financial,
convention, shopping, and recreational node.
Developed by the Ortigas conglomerate in the
1950s, it’s present configuration fully developed
only in the late 80s. The area covers 600 hectares.
Settlement Planning in the Phils.
- Cubao CBD- developed in the 1960s by the
Araneta Family, Cubao was intended as an
alternative business center in the Eastern side of
the metropolis. This 37 hectare property now
reflects more of a bazaar economy, though plans
are now being developed to convert the area to a
more modern commercial and recreational center.
- Emerging CBDs
Fort Bonifacio Global City- 500 ha of prime land
Boulevard 2000- 1167 ha of reclaimed land to revive
Manila as a city of commerce and tourism
Filinvest Corporate City- joint venture of government
and private sector. Accessible to industrial estates
and technological parks