PRESERVING AN OLD TOWN IN A

HIGHLY URBANIZED CITY IN THE

PHILIPPINES
IACSC Symposium
Urban Planning Unit Parallel Session
12 September 2015, 13:00 17:30
Yokohama Port Opening Memorial Ha

ATTY. VIOLETA SOMERA-SEVA

SENIOR ADVISOR, MAKATI CITY
Makati City as the premier financial capital of the Philippines
Makati takes pride in its cultural heritage in light of rapid urbanization

Baile de los Arcos, a devotional song and prayer for

St. Peter and Paul Parish Church St. Peter, St. Paul &Virgen de la Rosa
built in the early 1600s
Guadalupe Church,
built in 1600s

Kalbaryo, make-shift chapels

Plaza Cristo Rey during Holy Week
EVOLUTION OF THE MAKATI POBLACION HERITAGE CONSERVATION
200(MHPC):200
PROJECT
4 5
MHPC identified as one of the priority projects
in Makati21, the Citys Development Agenda
for the 21st Century, to heighten Makateos
pride of place
UP School of Urban & Regional Planning (UP
SURP) proposed a project development
centered on the Makati Poblacion Heritage
District Development Masterplan that is
inclusive,
collaborative, and
participative
 EVOLUTION OF THE MAKATI POBLACION HERITAGE CONSERVATION
200(MHPC):200
PROJECT
6 7
Cultural Mapping of the Heritage of Barangay Poblacion, Makati
City (inventory of Poblacions cultural assets) through the
cooperation of community elders and other relevant stakeholders
and with technical assistance from students and experts of FEATI
University - College of Architecture
funded by Spanish Cultural Cooperation Program through Instituto
Cervantes Manila

Signing Ceremony between Instituto

Cervantes, FEATI University and Makati Stakeholder Consultation
CIty
 EVOLUTION OF THE MAKATI POBLACION HERITAGE CONSERVATION
PROJECT (MHPC):
Cultural Mapping of the Heritage of Barangay
Poblacion, Makati City served as basis for heritage
programs and projects
Comprehensive study of tangible and intangible assets
in Brgy. Poblacion
Tangibles and Intangibles:

Brillantes House Tolentino House Coronado House

 EVOLUTION OF THE MAKATI POBLACION HERITAGE CONSERVATION
200(MHPC):
PROJECT
8
Conduct of the first Makati Poblacion Heritage
Conservation Workshop with partners from Metropolis
Global Fund for Cities and experts on urban heritage
conservation from Ille de France, Barcelona, London & Algeria
Conception of the Makati Poblacion Heritage Conservation
Project (MPHCP) and creation of a group tasked to study,
plan, prepare, and implement policies and programs for
Poblacions heritage conservation
 EVOLUTION OF THE MAKATI POBLACION HERITAGE CONSERVATION
200(MHPC):
PROJECT
9
Conduct of a second Poblacion Heritage Conservation Workshop to formulate
the Makati Poblacion Heritage District Development Masterplan
Delineation of the 6.6-hectare territory in the heart of Poblacion as the
prospective heritage district
6.6 Heritage Zone
2.0 Heritage Core

MAKATI HERITAGE DISTRICT CORE

 Declaration of Heritage
Preservation Zone in the
Comprehensive Land Use
Plan and Zoning Ordinance
of 2012 which provided
development guidelines that
conform to its character as the
heritage district of Makati
FIVE DIMENSIONS OF THE MPHC PLAN
Urban Development and Strategic Planning
covers all physical improvements to its streetscape parks, open spaces and
general infrastructure
Transportation Development
involves strategies for increased mobility and accessibility into and within
the District
Legal and Institutional Development
aims to institutionalize polies and mechanism that ensure sustainability
Finance and Marketing Development
designs strategies for the Districts self-sustainability and increased
economic value to stakeholders
Cultural and Social Development
intends to improve human development by encouraging active
involvement among residents and stakeholders
EVOLUTION OF THE MAKATI POBLACION HERITAGE CONSERVATION
201 201
PROJECT (MHPC):201
201
0 555
Strategic Planning and Physical Development
Rehabilitation of Museo ng Makati
Conceptual Design of signages, directional signs and markers (Heritage District
Streetscape) Development
Transportation
Audit of Heritage District Streets for Mobility and Accessibility
Legal and Institutional Development
Reorganization of the MPHC Project
Request for Technical Assistance from the NCCA for policy-making and training of cultural
workers
Capacity Building Activities:
Benchmarking Activities in Angono, Rizal;
National Training on Culture-based Governance with NCCA; and
Seminar on Local History with Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Finance and Marketing Development
Continuing allocation of public and private funds
Cultural and Social Development
Stakeholder Consultation for Plaza Cristo Rey Redevelopment
 PRIORITY LEVEL
Immediat Short- Long-Term
ACTIVITIES e (0-2 Medium (11-20
years) (3-10 years)
years)
Institutional Development
1
Pass ordinance creating Heritage District and Heritage Council
2 Creation of interim body for management of project;

appointment of full-time PMO head and full-time support staff

3
Creation of District Management Body ongoing
Financial & Marketing Development
1 Allocate seed fund for the management body of the Heritage

District
2
Allocate funds for the implementation of public sector projects
3 Set up special fund to assist residents in preparing feasibility

studies for private sector improvements ongoing

4 Set up and implement financial incentives for private sector

developments ongoing
5 Approach banks/ HDMF to provide loans for private sector

projects
6 Apply for grants for IEC and capability building activities
7 Conduct market study
8
Formulate marketing plan
Plan for media relations, special events, advertising, graphic
materials, and promotions
Implement marketing plan
 PRIORITY LEVEL
Immediat Short- Long-
ACTIVITIES e (0-2 Medium Term
years) (3-10 years) (11-20
years)
Physical Development
1 Implementation of public sector investments (pilot projects)
2 Implementation of development guidelines for existing and
new developments ongoing
3 Implementation of private sector improvements ongoing
4 Implementation of other infrastructure projects ongoing
5 Replication of catalyst projects (pedestrianization, adaptive
reuse) ongoing
Transport Development
1 Alternate Roadside Parking Management
2 Traffic Management and Neighborhood Safety Program
3 Transport Network Development
MakWalk, MakBike, E-jeepney ongoing
MakX Loop, MakX PRT, BRT ongoing
Social and Cultural Development
1 Enhance community participation ongoing
2 Revive unique cultural practices and arts that can provide
opportunities for tourism and community development ongoing
3 Livelihood development ongoing
4 Business development ongoing
5 Establish linkages ongoing
 CHALLENGES SOLUTIONS
Deficient technical and Conduct of capacity building
non-technical capacity workshops
Seek assistance from the
of personnel in National Commission for
heritage conservation Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
Deficient legal and Formulate and adopt policies
institutional support and plans for cultural and
that will ensure social heritage enrichment and
institutional arrangements
acceptability and
Build partnerships with local
ensure sustainability and international
Need for funding big- organizations and
ticket proposals community ownership
Seek funding support from
government and private
sector
Heritage conservation in a highly-urbanized
setting is a daunting task, especially with the
rapid economic development of the city. But
through the cooperation of the residents,
private sector, national and international
partners, organizations and agencies, it can be
achieved.
- Hon. Jejomar C. Binay
vice President, Republic of the Philippines
Former Mayor, City Government of Makati