Building safer and more resilient cities in the Philippines

What struck me immediately upon moving to Manila eight months ago was the cultural diversity and the warmth of its citizens. As an urban planner, I could not help but think of the large opportunities but also unused potential the city offers in terms of jobs, education, access to welfare services, among others. Manila is a gateway for many people to improve their family’s quality of life. As vibrant and dynamic as it is, there is much the city could improve through better urban planning to address visible issues of congestion, lack of affordable housing, and more broadly, providing a livable and healthy urban environment so that citizens can thrive. Now more than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of integrating various considerations in urban planning,  including infrastructure, environment, economic activities, and spaces to bring communities together in our cities.  More