Updates on Manila’s Urban Regeneration and Heritage Conservation Work and the Carlos Palanca Urban Renewal Project
By MJBMananghaya, Dean – College of Archictecture
2 June 2008

FEATI University President Adolfo Jesus R. Gopez and Architecture Dean Ma. Joycelyn B. Mananghaya, FEU IARFA Dean Arch. Lorelie de Viana, PUP College of Architecture faculty members and officials of other universities graced the event.  Manila Mayor Hon. Alfredo Lim, City of Manila Chief of Staff Mr. Ric de Guzman, Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta, a consultant for the conservation of Manila’s heritage, together with other city officials hosted and actively participated in the event at the City Hall. 

Dr. Engelhardt encouraged the stakeholders of Manila to conserve its heritage.  He centered on the numerous possibilities that Manila stakeholders could do to regenerate its communities.  One particular example is the “Adopt a Street” strategy wherein the stakeholders can focus on a particular street within its immediate vicinity and work around its rehabilitation/renewal.  This strategy is in fact already working here in Manila wherein universities in the U-Belt district has already adopted a street, and one good example is what FEATI University is doing in its service oriented project:  the Carlos Palanca Urban Renewal Project, which has been on-going since 2005. 

Another strategy that Dr. Engelhardt proposed was the development of cultural industries in the area.  He stressed the important role of universities in the development of cultural industries that could be carried out through the programmes they offer.  Universities could be the incubators for development of such cultural industries.  The Quiapo area has been known to be a center of commerce since Spanish times and cultural industries related to jewelry making, handicrafts, herbal medicines amongst others have thrived in the area since colonial times.  Recent developments in cultural practices have yet to be discovered or rediscovered and potentials are high in Quiapo knowing that this is a culturally rich area.

The UP SURP study and the Central University Belt Cluster in its quest for
Urban Renewal
On recent developments related to our work in urban development and renewal of the Sta Cruz/Quaipo district, another meeting was held last May 26, 2008 at the Office of the Mayor, Manila City Hall by the Stakeholders of the Central University Belt.  Ms. Gemma Cruz Araneta gave the Welcome Remarks and put emphasis on the conservation of heritage structures and ancestral houses in Manila.

Presented in this meeting was the project undertaken by Dr. Z.A. Manalo of the UP SURP and EnP/Arch. Joel Oaña, former FEU SURE head.  It centers on the Potential Initiatives for Urban Renewal of the University Belt in the City of Manila which was started 8 years ago with the development of the initial phase of the University Belt Consortium in 2000-2006.  The project has three objectives: 1) To identify issues and concerns 2) To conceptualize preliminary area development framework 3) To have awareness and build partnerships with the City Officials and with the different sectors/ stakeholders.  The Conceptual Framework of the project is Place, People, and Partnerships.

The project focused on the results of a survey of the streets of C.M. Recto, R. Papa/S.H. Loyola plus other minor streets in the area. Their findings are categorized into 4 D’s: 1) Dangerous: high crime incident, lack of police visibility; 2) Dirty: presence of piles of garbage, ineffective collection of waste, poor drainage system; 3) Disorderly: Traffic congestion, unregulated pedicabs, noisy environment; 4) Dilapidated and run-down structures that are displeasing to the eye, etc.

Findings on this project on a physical and visual resource assessment study conducted in the area show that the area has a distinctive urban spatial characteristic in its arcaded sidewalks. But the presence of unregulated sidewalk vendors and buildings that are inharmonious to existing designs thereby weakening the spatial quality of the area.

Observations point to the lack of landscaping in the area and sidewalks having no unifying image, the proliferation of  fast-food chains and shopping malls that are usually located in major interaction nodes of the area, the “No major Interactive nodes for students” who are the most important users of the U-Belt area.  According to the project report, students are not being taking cared of in this aspect and that there are some architectural heritage structures that can indeed be conserved and opened for adaptive reuse like the La Gota de Leche and the FEU.

Other observations are on pedestrian counts with the most number of pedestrians passing through C.M. Recto Avenue, followed by R.Papa and Nicanor Reyes streets.  Despite the number of pedestrians passing on these streets, there are very narrow passages on sidewalks and some have no sidewalks at all. The UP SURP study stressed the need for the City Hall to look into these problems.

The study also mentioned the presence of choke points at the intersection of Recto and Legarda, S.H. Loyola and Recto. Traffic conflicts occur because some two way streets become 3 ways.  Also, that there is flooding and seismic hazards occurring on certain streets and that the esteros are full of garbage along Delgado and Dela Rosa from Legarda Station.  It also points that the weakness of the area are its sidewalks that are broken and have poor concrete paving.

Threats to the area have been identified and these are on environmental issues, health, poor quality of life, slow response to emergency, low tourism/no investors, low investments, high crime rate and flood.

The presentation stressed on this project as a wake up call for the City Officials because the taxpayers and the students (thousands of them) who occupy and use the area are under threat.

The presentation was trying to convey a message on the active role that Colleges and Universities in the U-Belt area can do in urban renewal and in building partnerships with the government for the betterment of the quality of life in the U-belt area.

FEATI University and the Carlos Palanca Street Urban Renewal project
Vis a vis all these developments occurring in the Central U-Belt area, FEATI University’s role in urban renewal and in building partnerships has recently been put forward as  it again organized its 5th Carlos Palanca Stakeholders Working Group Meeting (CPSWG) held last 27 May 2008. FEATI University has been actively participating in urban renegeration since 2005 focusing on its target environment: the Carlos Palanca Street and its environs.  The meeting’s agenda was to perform an ocular survey of Carlos Palanca street and its surrounding streets, mainly those that are in the heart of Quiapo with the primary purpose of pin pointing areas of concern and to encourage the City and Local Governments to address these issues on these problem areas. 

Officials from the City of Manila lead by the Deputy Chief of Staff Atty. Fernando Marcelo, who actively participates in all meetings of the CPSWG in behalf of Mayor Lim and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ric de Guzman, barangay officials like Chairman. Josie Dee of Brgy 306, Chairman Lucman of Brgy. 648 and Arch. Marlou Campaner and Homer Robas of the City Planning Office and CPSWG members from the private sector – owners of commercial establishments in the area and members of the FEATI academe like Dean Joy Mananghaya actively participated in the survey.  The group went around Carlos Palanca Strreet, Quinta Market and the Ile de Tul or Ilalim ng Tulay, Villalobos street, Carriedo street, and the Quapo Underpass.

Surprisingly, the areas visited were cleaned up and organized, but only for that day.  Reactions from stakeholders point to the fact that these areas are only cleaned up during those periods when the CPSWG convene.  Arch. Mananghaya however explained to some stakeholders that despite this happening only on certain days of the week or the month, this is indeed a good development for it shows what can be done if we all work together and participate in addressing the urban problems around us. Barangay 306 officials was further encouraged, reporting that they have these places cleaned up at least once a week, most especially the area fronting the Quinta Market that is proliferated by fish vendors during rush hours of the day.

Relevant to the reactions of stakeholders in Carlos Palanca are the numerous potentials that urban renewal efforts can generate, if undertaken in a participatory and partnership approach such as what is happening in our community here surrounding FEATI University.  In Carlos Palanca and in the heart of Quiapo, urban renewal may take time but with the active participation of all stakeholder sectors in the area, this is may not be too far from being realized.

Stakeholders are most aware of the concerns of each sector as they try their best to address these problems.  First and foremost is the lack of resources to actively monitor problem areas and immediately address the concerns.  Brgy 306 in particular has its own Barangay Tanod Officials who run around and assist in addressing the peace and order situation in the area together with Police officials.  The Barangay monitors and regulates the number of vendors and pedicabs in the area.  In November 2007, the City of Manila came out with a “No Vendor Policy” which has recently been changed to a “Regulated Vending Policy”.  Unlike before in the later part of 2007, no vendors were allowed in Quaipo, but perhaps this policy did not really take into effect considering the commercial activities that transpired during the Christmas season and the January 9 Quaipo fiesta.  To date, vending is allowed but is regulated.  Obstruction of walkways and circulation areas are not allowed.  The policy is a “Regulated Vending and No Obstruction Policy”. The City Hall and the barangays affected are coming up with 1m x 1m temporary stalls for vending, and this will be rented out to interested.parties.  Vendors who want bigger spaces would have to rent two or three stalls.  Some private sector stakeholders and owners of formal commercial establishments wondered if they can rent some of the stalls and put these on the sidewalks in front of their stores.  That way they control their frontage and the type of products that are sold within their vicinity.

Barangay 306 reported that it has been encouraging fish vendors fronting Quinta Market to move inwards and prevent congestion on the right of way of that part of Carlos Palanca.  Recent developments show that the vendors housing temporary stalls in front of this Makert have in fact move inwards and a wider right of way for vehicles is now visible in front of the Quinta.

A demolition of informal settlers at the Ile de Tul or Ilalim ng Tulay is also underway.  If the demolition is successful, the City and local governments are now thinking of relocating the parking areas of pedicabs and tricycles to this area fronting the Ile de Tul, thereby decongesting Carlos Palanca street. 

Relatedly, a good development that happened was the presence of representatives of the Pedi-cab Association and the Market Master’s Office of the Quinta Market, and the head of the Vendors Association in Quiapo participated in the CPSWG meeting.  Barangay Chair Dee assured the CPSWG that these groups are willing to cooperate and actively participate in the improvement efforts undertaken within the environs of Quiapo.

With all of these efforts being undertaken here in Carlos Palanca, it is indeed hopeful that this task initiated by FEATI University now being actively participated by the different sectors most especially by the City and local governments will be fruitful.