CEBU ‘NEEDS ADDITIONAL GROWTH CENTERS’

From metropolis to megalopolis: It’ll make sense to grow Bogo City in northern Cebu and a counterpart in the south as additional urban growth centers, to stave off problems like congestion and pollution, says urban planner Felino Palafox Jr.

As it formally enters Cebu, Manila-based Palafox Architecture and Palafox Associates hopes to influence decision-makers, urban planners and developers to pursue or spread development of other growth corridors in the cities that surround Cebu.

Architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. said transforming Cebu into a “megalopolis” is a strategy to save the province’s capital from chronic issues like traffic congestion, overpopulation, poverty, pollution—which are some of the negative effects associated with progress, if growth is not properly managed.

“Development should not end in metropolitan Cebu. Growth has to be spread to other surrounding cities,” said Palafox, adding that the birth of the megalopolis begins by establishing urban growth centers in both the north and south of Cebu Province.

A metropolis is a cluster of cities and municipalities, while a megalopolis is a cluster of metropolitan areas.

Better use of land

Palafox pointed out the land area of Cebu is four times the size of Hong Kong and six times the size of Singapore.

While the area for development is vast, if the city plans to be like Hong Kong or Singapore, the province can comfortably accommodate 30 million people, while preserving heritage, ecological sites, and the natural environment.

“Urban growth centers should be established in the north (e.g. Bogo City) and south, so that these emerging urban growth centers will act as counter-magnets and balance urban development,” he said.

Palafox said he has already pitched this vision to the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) in Cebu. He cited bureaucracy and corruption, though, as major roadblocks in realizing this idea.

But the master urban planner is quick to note that this idea has a high chance of being considered and implemented with the present administration’s campaign for federalism.

Contribution

Founded in 1989, Palafox Architecture and Palafox Associates said it has been setting the benchmark in Philippine planning, architecture and design scene.

It has emerged as a top Filipino architectural firm recognized by the London-based World Architecture magazine and ranked 89th of the top 100 and eight in the world in leisure projects by UK based website bdonline.co.uk in 2012.

Palafox said their “formal entry” to Cebu is timely given the rapid progress of the province, although he has been a frequent visitor here, giving talks on urban planning and offering consultancy services to some of Cebu’s homegrown developers.

The firm believes it has much to contribute to Cebu in terms of providing world- class architecture and planning and helping transform the province into a megalopolis that is “livable, resilient, green, smart and sustainable.”

“Jun Palafox is an institution in our country in the field of urban planning and architecture. We, Cebuanos, are proud to have him here to impart his knowledge and expertise. We should take advantage of this opportunity,” said Cebu Landmasters Inc., President and CEO Jose Soberano III. He had sought Palafox’s expertise for the development of an industrial estate in Minglanilla under Ming Mori Development Corp., to be managed and developed by CLI.

In interviews, Architect Palafox has pushed for, among others, efficient mass transport along with urban infrastructure that is less biased toward automobiles; and “adaptive architecture” to protect people from flooding. In the last 28 years, the architecture firm has completed more than 1,200 projects.

Urban planning-wise, our obsolete practices have not progressed from the 16th century practice of intramuros and extramuros. You live inside the walls (intramuros) if you’re rich and powerful, and outside the walls (extramuros) if you’re a peasant, which today is the equivalent of the modern-day city employee

ARCHITECT FELINO PALAFOX JR. Quoted in a Sept. 19, 2015 article by The Straits Times