Urban Congestion and Limited Space in the Philippines PDF

URBAN CONGESTION AND LIMITED SPACE I. Background The background tackles about the topic of Urban Congestion and Limited Space. With this, the Philippines stands out as one of Asia's fastest-growing urban center, overall growth in population is the main reason. Additionally, numbers increase...

URBAN CONGESTION AND LIMITED SPACE I. Background The background tackles about the topic of Urban Congestion and Limited Space. With this, the Philippines stands out as one of Asia's fastest-growing urban center, overall growth in population is the main reason. Additionally, numbers increased from 45% in 2010 to 54% in 2020. Most of this congestion happens in key cities namely the Greater Manila Area. As a result, issues related to housing, infrastructure, and movement in cities appeared. On top of this, the Philippines faces natural disasters often. These challenges added the country to the Global ranking by the World Risk Index 2022. This ranking could be linked to the problems in crowded urban areas. II. Trends and Progression of Issues Further rapid and unchecked urbanization, without a doubt, leads to an added decline in the quality of life, more significant environmental degradation, acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions, social stress, and political turbulence in cities such as Manila in the Philippines. Moreover, the number of homes needed was about 6.5 million in 2022 and has the potential to reach 22 million by 2040. With that, a lot of informal settlers live in makeshift homes, about 3.7 million, often crammed into risk- prone areas such as fire and flooding, which makes city management and urban planning even more challenging. Also, with the Philippines being in a place where natural disasters happen a lot, the concerns of managing these crowded cities are even more difficult. Additionally, the country contributes to a lot of plastic pollution in the oceans, mostly because trash isn’t handled well in these packed cities. These piled-up concerns have become a barrier to progress in the country; population density has put a strain on public transportation and has led to longer commute times, which resulted in less productivity and overall a major blow to the quality of life of Filipinos. III. Review Related Literature Urban congestion and limited space are now crucial challenges in the Philippines, caused by rapid urban expansion observed throughout ASEAN countries. The unbalanced urban expansion that is a problem in the country continues to be unchecked, specifically in the Greater Manila Area, where housing shortages, inadequate public service, and environmental degradation are evident. All urban problems are worsened by frequent natural disasters, mainly flooding, which stress the city's infrastructure. The ASEAN study highlights that while urbanization brings economic benefits, it often results in significant social and environmental challenges, particularly for vulnerable groups in informal settlements. This situation is similar in the country; around 3.7 million families live as informal settlers in high-risk areas. The study from ASEAN emphasizes the importance of urban development policies that is focused around building adequate housing and sustainable infrastructure while at the same time resilient to any natural disasters (ASEAN, 2022). The study found that complete and thorough urban planning with the involvement of local and regional sectors, as recommended by the study, are necessary steps in addressing the issues of urban congestion in the country. There are safeguards or necessary steps in addressing the pressing issue of urban congestion, policies that are focused towards the informal settlers and their economic sustainability these are key to addressing the issue of urban congestion (ASEAN, 2022). In an opinion piece by Inquirer.net, it was emphasized that there is a significant psychological toll on Filipinos caused by living in an "Urban nightmare." The daily loss due to traffic congestion in the metro has amounted to 2.4 Billion; the government's solution is to task DOTR and MMDA to prioritize traffic management. For a start, both agencies imposed among Local Government units within metro Manila to have a single ticketing system as a start for policy-driven to combat traffic (Inquirer.net, 2024). IV. Mandated Governing Administrative Bodies The immediate government agency charged with handling the challenges of urban congestion and the limited space in the country is (DHSUD) or the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. Key functions include: Urban Planning and Development: Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development or DHSUD initiates the promotion and development of sustainable and efficient urban planning that improves the living conditions of the marginalized sector. These plans are integral to the reduction of urban congestion by utilizing areas that are untapped by urban expansion. Housing Development and Policy Implementation: DHSUD is the agency that is responsible for coming up with and implementing affordable housing solutions in the country which is still facing a housing crisis that is getting worse. The Housing and Urban Development Sector Plan is aimed at harmonizing all the main stakeholders in the pursuit of better housing and urban development. This is a 20-year plan that is totally new and it is surprising because of its size. Besides housing development, the agency has an equally important role in the implementation of zoning and land use policies. With that, the enforcement of these policies ensures the compliance of each development with national standards while at the same time ensuring the effective address of housing needs. Environmental Planning and Management: One of the government agency tasked to formulate plicies that focused on Urban Planning is the DENR or The Department of Environment and Natural Resources. It is mandated to formulate regulations relating to environmental management and pollution prevention and control. Pollution Control: Regulation of emissions and the management of waste the DENR is actively engaged in the reduction of Air and Water Pollution that can be attributed to urban congestion. Resource Management: The management of natural resources such as water, forest and land is one of the key functions of DENR it oversees the sustainbale use of our natural resources. Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction: The agency is also mandated to integrate climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction into policy driven initiatives for urban planning to enhance community resilience and prevent disasters like flood, landslides, and typhoons. V. Contributors of the Arising Issues Urban congestion and limited space are major issues in many cities globally, especially in developing nations. In the Philippines, these challenges are influenced by several factors, as noted by UN-Habitat: Rapid Urbanization: Rapid urbanization is more often than not witnessed without the corresponding development of supporting infrastructure and provision of adequate government services, thereby congested cities. Inadequate Urban Planning and Traffic Congestion: Poorly planned urban areas can result in inefficient land use, with insufficient space for streets, public spaces, and essential services. Limited and inefficient public transportation options force a lot of people to acquire private vehicles, which can result in more traffic congestion. Informal Settlements: A significant portion of the urban population lives in slums, which are usually overcrowded and do not have enough infrastructure, which results in the improper use of space. Economic Disparities: Economic inequalities will be the cause of uneven development, where rich regions are well-planned and spacious, but the poor ones are overcrowded and underdeveloped VI. Sectors of Affected Persons of Interest Transportation and Commuters: Public transport passengers, drivers, cyclists, and people walking are at a higher risk. Traffic jams can cause buses, trains, and subways to be overcrowded and thus delayed, which in turn results in longer commute times and more fuel consumption. Traffic congestion can lead to a lack of space and pathways for bikes and create an unsafe environment for pedestrians. Businesses and Employees: The traffic jams have a negative impact on businesses as they cause the customers not to come and shop, which in turn leads to a decrease in sales and revenue. For workers, the longer journeys caused by traffic jams may be the reason for the lower efficiency and even higher stress. Residents: Urbanization and limited space in the city drive the cost of housing to be even higher for urban settlers; at the same time, the congested environment becomes their daily living conditions. This condition has a significant impact on low- income earners and families because of limited public service facilities, which are increasing due to congestion and overpopulation. Healthcare and Emergency Services: Public highways that are overcrowded and congested can lead to delayed response times for ambulances, fire trucks, and police officers. VII. Current Program Conducted The Philippines has various programs in place to manage urban congestion, particularly in the metropolis of Metro Manila. The government sectors are conducting the following programs: First, the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP): The Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) campaign deals with traffic congestion in Metro Manila and is directed by the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority). MMDA and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) created a five-year action plan that will cater to the guidelines provided by the necessary stakeholders. This document will serve as a roadmap to decongest the areas of concern by detecting and abolishing traffic bottlenecks while also modernizing traffic systems and traffic management of the MMDA and specific LGUs..Traffic Intervention Measures: According to their 2024 press release, MMDA has traffic congestion mitigation measures. In the list of ideas are things like traffic signals, bus stops, and intersections that have been relocated and roads that have been redesigned. Also, they are focusing on controlling the volume of vehicles to address the problem of illegal parking and improving the layout of the roads. Urban Development and Housing Framework (NUDHF): This framework promotes all-in urban development that is friendly to the environment, thus making urban planning a better place for all city dwellers. It provides various means of the creation of sustainable and livable cities (Delos Reyes et al., 2020). The Build, Build, Build (BBB) Program: The program initially went into action through the regime of President Duterte, whose goal was to revamp the country's infrastructure radically. It consisted of building roads, bridges, and public transport systems (Dela Peña, 2022). By such projects, some regions might have marked a decrease in traffic congestion through the introduction of detours and the improvement of traffic flow. These projects are aimed at developing a sustainable city which will comprise of both the immediate solutions to traffic jams and the long-term infrastructural requirements. Accordingly, well- planned environmental safeguards are to be made as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that urban areas with high sustainability, while addressing problems relating to traffic, will also have the infrastructure required for personal and goods mobility in the future. VIII. Effects of Efforts in Resolving the Issue The current report mentioned that the results of the intervention to tackle congestion in the Philippines, particularly in the Greater Manila AREA, are a mix of positive contributions and challenges. What can be bettered in public transportation is the inclusion of more MRT and LRT lines, thus giving commuters more efficient and reliable options and may be even reducing the number of private vehicles on the roads and thereby easing the congestion. However despite these enhancements, the mass transport system is still in risk as it suffers from overcrowding, and maintenance issues which are challenges that can hinder the progress. Maintenance problems, and limited coverage, which can be an obstacle in the way of a successful decrease of congestion. To address issues such as zoning, land use, and inter-agency coordinationit is vital to encourage a more sustainable approach that will enhance the quality of life of the constituents. In addition, enhanced infrastructure development can cause alterations in the environment, deforestation, and pollution, in particular. Consequently, the environmental sustainability and development have to be balanced for the long-term development. IX. Recommendation In the previous discussion, we stated that dealing with the problems described and the people concerned is to be done using a comprehensive strategy. Such a way of life includes urban planning, investing in public transport, and introducing policies to mitigate traffic congestion and enhance the quality of life. Among the recommended approaches are: Encourage Active Transportation: Promoting and incintivising walking, cycling and any manual mode of going to one place to the other by creating pedestrian-friendly roads and dedicated lanes for bicycles can alleviate traffic congestion and enahnce overall public health. Decentralize Economic Activities: Creating investment oppurtunities for other provinces outside the Greater Manila Area can help reduce the concentrated amount of people and vehicles in that area. Introduce Car-Free Days: Allotting specific days or areas where cars are prohibited can help reduce traffic and promote the use of public and active transportation. References: UN-Habitat, 2022. Philippines Country Report 2023. Available at: http://www.unhabitat.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NUDHF-ABRIDGED- 20171030-DIGITAL-EDITION.pdf [Accessed 27 September 2024]. World Bank, 2020. Building safer and more resilient cities in the Philippines. Available at: https://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/building-safer-and-more- resilient-cities-philippines [Accessed 27 September 2024]. Asia House, 2021. Challenges and opportunities for urban development in the Philippines. Available at: https://asiahouse.org/challenges-opportunities-urban- development-philippines [Accessed 25 September 2024]. Dela Peña, K., 2022. PH transport crisis: Complex problem requiring comprehensive solutions. INQUIRER.net, 20 June. Available at: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1613566/ph-transport-crisis-complex-problem-requiring- comprehensive-solutions [Accessed 28 September 2024]. Delos Reyes, M.R., Gamboa, M.A.M. & Rivera, R.R.B., 2020. The Philippines’ National Urban Policy for Achieving Sustainable, Resilient, Greener and Smarter Cities. In Developing National Urban Policies, pp. 169–203. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3738-7_7 [Accessed 28 September 2024]. Freeman, T., 2023. Navigating the Urban Jungle: Challenges and Solutions for City Transportation. Metro Analytics, 10 October. Available at: https://metroanalytics.com/navigating-the-urban-jungle-challenges-and-solutions-for- city-transportation/ [Accessed 28 September 2024]. Housing, Slums and Informal Settlements, n.d. Data.unhabitat.org. Available at: https://data.unhabitat.org/pages/housing-slums-and-informal-settlements [Accessed 30 September 2024]. Mayor, W. & Standard, M., 2024. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga: A trailblazer in environmental advocacy. Manila Standard, 3 March. Available at: https://manilastandard.net/?p=314422318 [Accessed 30 September 2024]. MMDA, LGUs and partner agencies set out Five-Year Action Plan to mitigate traffic congestion in Metro Manila under JICA’s Technical Cooperation, n.d. JICA. Available at:https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/philippine/english/office/topics/news/221128_02.ht ml [Accessed 30 September 2024]. STREETS AS PUBLIC SPACES AND DRIVERS OF URBAN PROSPERITY, n.d. Available at: https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2020/08/streets_as_public_spaces_and_driver s_of_urban_prosperity.pdf [Accessed 30 September 2024].