Professional Documents
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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 basic socio-political unit was the barangay, consisting of 30 to 100 families; decentralized;
located along coast lines and riverbanks; agricultural and fishing villages
1573 Laws of the Indies pronounced by King Philipp II Spanish town planning influenced by
the Romans and the Piazza planning of Italian Renaissance
1596 spatial segregation along racial and social lines Indios and Chinese have separate
districts; Parian or market spatial concentration of merchants and artisans to regulate the
exchange of goods
early 1600s Manila became the first primate city in Southeast Asia.
1650 chapels or small churches in the cabecera were built to attract tenacious natives from
the barrios (hinterlands) through fiestas and processions
1790s opening of the Manila- Acapulco galleon trade; emergence of semi-urban places in the
provinces
1890s other port cities continue to become regional urban centers; bridges were built along
postal routes facilitating transport in Luzon.
1903 City of Manila was incorporated covering Intramuros and 12 fast-growing suburban
towns.
1905 Manila and Baguio Plans of Daniel Burnham introduced the City Beautiful western type
of town planning.
1910 rebuilding of settlements complete with hygiene and sanitary facilities and drainage
systems called sanitary barrios.
1920s - Barrio Obrero or the working class district evolved as government response to the
needs of low-income labor families in urban areas.
1928 zoning ordinance for Manila promulgated but took effect only in 1940; zoning became
popular in America in the 1920s.
Growth of Manila:
The Arrabales
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.
FURTHER SUBURBANIZATION:
After the war - RA 333 designated Quezon city as new Capital and master planning it by the
Capital City Planning Commission.
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
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
RA 2264 local Autonomy Act of 1959 empowered LGUs to enact zoning ordinances and
subdivision rules; all towns and cities required to form planning boards to craft development
plans under the guidance of the NPC
1987 Constitution and Local Government Code of 1991 devolved powers to LGUs; local
autonomy; developments plans under the supervision of NEDA.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS:
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