History of Planning in the Philippines

(Spanish American Period)

Eduardo F. Bober, Jr.
Credits: Anya Raquin
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
The Laws of the Indies was employed as
the standards to all development in the
Philippines under King Philip II reign.
These laws provided guidelines for:
Site selection (e.g.: elevated and healthy location
with fortification)
Layout and dimensions of squares (e.g.: grid layout;
main plaza as the starting point)
Streets and other land uses (e.g.: small plazas
surrounded by principal buildings; other lots for
merchants shops and dwellings and more farm lots)
Barangays were grouped into pueblos
(towns); pueblos into provinces (alcaldias),
the provinces into the country.

In 1568, the country was divided into
encomiendas. The system was abolished in
1630 which was replaced by the
establishment of the provincial and
municipal governments.
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
Original plan of Manila (1898).
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
All roads lead to Manila and Madrid, a
centralization principle of colonialism. This is
manifested in the dendritic pattern of town locations
that easily siphoned off resources from the
hinterlands to the port or primate city of Manila.
The Galleon trade (1790) and Mercantilism
reinforced Manilas primacy and favored only
certain urban areas supplying selected products.
The Maura Law of 1893 established a municipal
tribunal or council for each town with at least a
thousand taxpayers. It extended autonomy to the
provinces.
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
The Philippine Plaza Complex
and Spains reduccion policy
meant to bring the dispersed
population under the bells.
Town (poblaciones) plans
followed the Greco-Roman
pattern marked by a grid
pattern with the core (colonial)
elements of plaza complex of
church, town hall, market,
schools, and principalia
dwellings.
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
Taga-Bayan and Taga-Bukid the
reduccion policy created town and rural
residents. Within the town, peopled lived
around the plaza, with the illustrados
located closest to the center and the lower
class living at the periphery within the
sound of bells (debajo de las campanas).
The taga-bukid constituted a small
minority who had to be in the fields or rural
areas planting rice.
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
INTRAMUROS a self-
contained community that
interacted within its
surrounding communities.
It has 1.2 km2 area with a
3.4 km. walled-perimeter.
When decentralization
occurred, communities
were built in Malate, San
Miguel, Paco among other
areas.
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
In 1890, other port cities continue to
become urban centers, bridges were built
along coastal routes facilitating transport in
Luzon.
Under the Spaniards
(1521 1898)
Under the Americans
(1898 1946)
The plaza complex was modified. The town
center which was focused on the plaza and
the church shifted to the market place.

On July 31, 1903, by virtue of Act No. 183,
the City of Manila was incorporated. Manila
encompassed Intramuros, the towns of
Binondo, Tondo, Sta. Cruz, Malate, Ermita,
Paco and Pandacan.
Burnhams Plan for Manila
(1905) Daniel H. Burnham,
architect and exponent of the
City Beautiful movement
prepared the plans for the growth
of Manila and Baguio City.
Planning influence was that of
Patrick Geddes, i.e. survey-
analyze-plan. The plan was
implemented by architect William
E. Parsons.
Under the Americans
(1898 1946)
Burnhams original plan of Manila (1905)
The plan focused on parks,
grand avenues and monumental
groupings of public buildings as
a strong civic core.
Under the Americans
(1898 1946)
The Americans gave greater emphasis on
sanitation, housing and aesthetic
improvements.
In 1910, rebuilding of settlements was
done complete with hygiene and sanitary
facilities and drainage systems (Sanitary
barrios)
Barrio obrero in 1915 came up as a
housing scheme for local labor groups.
Under the Americans
(1898 1946)
City planning did not get institutional
foothold. A zoning plan was prepared only
in 1929.

A zoning ordinance proposed in 1935 failed
due to opposition from real estate and other
special interests.

No laws (during the period) were enacted to
mention about the substance of planning.
Under the Americans
(1898 1946)
In 1939, Commonwealth Act 457
authorized the transfer of the
capitol to an area of 1572 square
hectares.
After the war, RA 333 designated
Quezon City as new capital and
master planning was done by the
Capital city Planning Commission.
City Beautiful reflected the
aspirations of an emerging nations
and the visions of a passionate
leader.
Under the Americans
(1898 1946)
In 1946 (post-commonwealth) that the
National Urban Planning Committee was
created by President Sergio Osmea for the
reconstruction of cites.
Under the Americans
(1898 1946)