Future-proofing Metro Manila: A metropolis for all

Originally published in Manila Bulletin

When I began the consultancy report Future Proofing Metro Manila, my mission was clear yet ambitious: to reimagine our city as a place where everyday life feels simpler, healthier, and more fulfilling. Metro Manila's residents currently lose up to 117 hours annually stuck in rush-hour traffic. Only 29 percent express satisfaction with healthcare, and our pollution index sits alarmingly high at 89.9. These figures highlight an urgent need for deep-rooted, systemic change rather than mere surface-level interventions.

This reality pushed me toward the 15-minute city concept—a transformative urban planning model placing essential services such as groceries, clinics, and schools within walking or biking distance. My initial explorations of this idea eventually crystallized into Reimagine Manila, an urban transformation initiative designed to scale accessible, human-centered design across the entire metropolis.

To ensure my recommendations genuinely reflected the complexities of lived experiences, I initiated extensive dialogue through focus group discussions. I spoke with a diverse spectrum of stakeholders—single mothers, persons with disabilities, elderly individuals, residents in informal settlements, millennials, Gen Z, students, educators, parents, policymakers, city officials, cyclists, environmentalists, and architects. Each conversation enriched my understanding, revealing distinct perspectives on what genuinely makes a city liveable.

From land-use planning and transportation to economic vitality, social infrastructure, and digital connectivity, our discussions illuminated how needs and priorities shift dramatically based on one's context. Complementing these qualitative insights, a comprehensive five-part quantitative survey was conducted across Metro Manila. Translated into Tagalog to maximize inclusivity, this survey delved into demographic profiles, mobility patterns, and community perceptions of the 15-minute city model, including anticipated benefits and challenges.

My research scrutinized the 15-minute city framework across three specific urban environments: informal settlements, inner-city districts, and suburban neighborhoods, guided by UN-Habitat standards on population density and land use. The strategies proposed range from short-term actions like participatory planning, car-free pilot zones, and flexible zoning, advancing to medium-term interventions including in-situ upgrading, improved public transit, and transit-oriented development. Over the long-term, the vision extends into climate-resilient communities grounded in inclusive zoning policies and sustainable building practices.

Ultimately, Future Proofing Metro Manila transcends conventional policy frameworks—it is a bold call to reshape our city into a responsive, inclusive environment. My experience at the London School of Economics' MSc Cities program profoundly influenced my perspective, prompting me to view urban spaces not merely as physical constructs but through the daily lived experiences of those navigating them.

Now, every time I pass a train station, I wonder if elderly residents and individuals with disabilities can traverse it with ease and dignity. I reflect on how the scarcity of daycare facilities disproportionately burdens young mothers, limiting their economic participation and personal growth. Urban planning decisions, often unseen, perpetuate inequalities, forcing individuals—especially women—to choose between caregiving and career aspirations.

Metro Manila deserves better. Our urban landscape can be thoughtfully designed so no one has to make such impossible choices. Imagine a city where everyone, irrespective of age, ability, or background, can genuinely thrive—a city where urban life ceases to be a daily struggle and becomes instead a shared promise fulfilled.

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