louwie gan: ‘urban spaces should promote equality for all’
Three considerations in urban planning must be present to create an ideal post-Covid world, especially for densely populated areas like Metro Manila.
First, we need more mass transportation, not cars. Public utility vehicles (PUVs) must also become more efficient (and eco-friendly). Both, however, need to adjust to make way for lesser passengers. This problem may be solved by bicycles, which can be effective for mobility as PUVs can only accommodate a few people during the new normal.
While some people think buying a car is more effective to avoid crowded public transportation, it is the opposite of resiliency. To be resilient, it is practical to focus efforts on improving public transportation and making active transportation (such as walking and bicycling) the primary mode of mobility. Private car is only an alternative.
Second, urban spaces should incorporate ecological processes beyond typical landscape features that only serve mankind for recreation. We must respect the balance between gray and green spaces, including the symbiotic relationship of humans to other organisms. Variation of use should characterize urban spaces.
Last, urban spaces should promote equal opportunity to all, regardless of status in society. This means that housing for low-income and high-income groups should coexist in every community. This is not the case in the country, which is why I believe how we allocate location for housing exacerbates poverty in cities. Private-public cooperation on community development should take place to harmonize how cities should look like and avoid the trap where buildings compete for attention, rather than complementing each other to make urban spaces holistically beautiful.