PROBLEMS OF
PHILIPPINE URBAN CENTERS
by Antonio C.
Antonio
April 29, 2014
From the
environmental and ecological viewpoints, Philippine urban centers do have so
many problems. I have chosen to write
about the urban problems and solutions of Metro Manila since this is where my
family and I live. As citizens of the
biggest metropolis in the Philippines, we are exposed to its good and bad
environment. In constructing the table
of problems and solutions, please allow me to add a “causes” column to enable
me to pair better or match “solutions” knowing the actual “cause” of the
“problem.” Please note that this is just
a matrix of my personal take… I’m sure you, after reading this, will have more
to suggest.
PROBLEM
|
CAUSES
|
SOLUTIONS
|
Air Pollution
|
Old/Surplus
vehicles.
|
Ban the
importation of old and surplus motor vehicles.
|
Ban the entry of
old vehicles into Metro Manila.
|
||
Pay higher motor
vehicle registration fees for old vehicles.
|
||
More pavement and
less trees.
|
Make tree
planting a mandatory yearly activity for all schools and business enterprises
with more than 20 personnel.
|
|
Waste Management
|
Gross apathy.
|
Strict
implementation of RA No. 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.
|
No incentive.
|
Discipline and
rewards program where model barangays and individuals are rewarded for their
involvement and success in waste management.
|
|
Clean Air Act
|
Incineration was
outlawed by the Clean Air Act while more advanced countries like Sweden,
Japan and Germany use this technology.
Amend the Clean Air Act to allow controlled and modern incineration.
|
|
Water Pollution /
Safe Drinking
Water
|
Antiquated water
distribution lines.
|
Require the
service providers (Maynilad and Manila Water) to rehabilitate existing water
lines as part of their contracts and corporate social responsibility.
|
Illegal water
connections.
|
Stiffer penalties
for illegal connections and criminalize water theft.
|
|
Informal settlers
|
Migration from
rural areas as agricultural activities cannot support large families.
|
Encourage
businessmen to invest outside of Metro Manila through tax incentives,
no-hassle processing of business licenses and permits, etc.
|
Less job
opportunities in rural areas.
|
||
Inadequate
resettlement areas especially jobs and livelihood.
|
Encourage
manufacturing companies to establish their factories near relocation areas.
|
|
Traffic
|
Unruly and
undisciplined drivers.
|
Strict
implementation of traffic rules and regulations. Outright revocation of diving licenses for
recurring and habitual offenses.
|
Too many
vehicles.
|
Pay higher motor
vehicle registration fees for older vehicles.
|
|
Inadequate road
network.
|
Request
subdivisions and villages to open up and allow access to vehicles.
|
|
Road
obstructions.
|
Demolish
traffic-causing structures (like sidewalk vendor stalls, basketball courts,
etc.)
|
|
Too many empty
public utility vehicles on the road.
|
Study the
carrying capacity of roads and implement controls in the granting of
franchises to public utility vehicles..
|
|
Floods
|
Silted and
impeded esteros and creeks.
|
Clean up esteros
and creeks.
|
Demolish
obstructive structures along esteros and creeks.
|
||
Silted and
impeded rivers.
|
Clean up rivers.
|
|
Demolish
obstructive structures along the rivers.
|
||
Clogged drainage
systems.
|
Clear-up drainage
canals and implement a workable Barangay-level solid waste management system.
|
|
Poverty
|
Stiff competition
for jobs.
|
Encourage more
job-generating business investments.
|
Lack of formal
education.
|
Expanded skills
development program.
|
|
Overpopulation
|
Less job
opportunities in the rural areas.
|
Encourage the
setting up of businesses and factories in the countryside.
|
No workable
population control program.
|
The Reproductive
Health Bill.
|
|
Decent Housing
|
Affordability of
houses.
|
Low cost and
affordable housing project for legitimate urban poor.
|
Uncoordinated
urban planning
|
Too many Mayors
with kanya-kanya agenda.
|
Urban planning
and development should be designed and planned by only one agency, say:
MMDA. Then all cities and
municipalities will comply.
|
Inadequate
healthcare
|
Poverty due to
overpopulation.
|
Educational and
information program aimed at making the urban poor aware of the economics of
a big family.
|
Insufficient
healthcare structure.
|
Additional budget
allocation for health care services.
|
|
High criminality
rate
|
Widespread poverty.
|
More police
visibility. Mandatory installation of
CCTV system in all commercial establishments and encourage the installation
of the same for those who can afford them.
|
Just my little
thoughts…
REFERENCES:
·
http://www.philstar.com/business/2012-08-10/836602/metro-manila-safe-live
·
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/habitat/profiles/manila.asp
·
http://www.country-studies.com/philippines/urban-social-patterns.html
·
http://www.pinoyprogress.com/showthread.php?t=1469
·
http://voices.yahoo.com/managing-solid-wastes-philippines-50597.html
·
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/375688/solutions-to-urban-problems-pushed#.URiyDh2siSo
·
http://www.forum-urban-futures.net/activities/papers/urban-sector-strategy-and-operations-philippines
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