Coping with an emerging megacity
By Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Saturday, December 8th, 2012
THE UNITED Nations Human Settlements Program (UN–Habitat) defines a “mega city” as a city with 20 million or more inhabitants.
While Metro Manila is not yet considered one (compared to Shanghai, Tokyo, Mumbai, London or New York), its growing population—currently pegged at around 12 million—may soon find itself merging with another densely populated region of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) that also now has around 12 million inhabitants.
“With excellent roads and much-improved telecommunications system already connecting these two regions, the fact that there are several thriving business centers and economic zones system existing and new infrastructures being completed all over these two places, it would no longer be surprising to realize a mega city emerging out of Metro Manila and Calabarzon,” said PA Alvarez Properties and Development Corp. president Jonathan Lu.
Those in Bulacan,
Pampanga or Tarlac have the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway to make sure they are just few hours’ drive from their destinations in Metro Manila or even Calabarzon.”
Lu also shared that PAAPDC is already set to launch its first project in Bulacan next year. He said: “This will be our second project outside the province of Laguna after Bridgepointe Place, a 34-hectare development in
San Fernando City, Pampanga. We also see an opportunity in Tarlac as this province is an emerging growth area with all the infrastructure developments being undertaken in the Clark-Subic area.”
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