Traffic congestion has become a perennial problem in Metro Manila. Compared to major cities in Southeast Asia such as Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, Metro Manila has the worst gridlock.
According to the TomTom traffic index, a Filipino commuter spends on average 25 minutes and 30 seconds to traverse the 10-kilometer route, a similar distance from Cubao to Makati. In 2023, commuters lost up to 117 hours per year due to congestion, an equivalent of four days and 21 hours. In 2022, the data showed 12 hours and 51 minutes in average time lost.
The increasing number of hours of commutes has led developers to seriously consider how communities are being developed to address this problem.
For MyTown Chief Executive Jogee Arellano, the live-where-you-work setup in a 15-minute city model is a practical solution. “The cost of commuting to work has become quite expensive. If one considers time as money, then the economic loss is not only felt in the pocket but in your well-being as well. These days, a two-hour commute during rush hour is almost normal even for people living in nearby cities within Metro Manila. In this scenario, living near your workplace truly becomes a viable option.”
A 15-minute city is an urban planning design where residents can reach places of work, study, leisure, and necessities within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. It is a human-centric design that promotes mobility through walking, cycling, and the use of public transport, and prefers public spaces rather than roads.
A part of SM’s property portfolio, MyTown is an example of the 15-minute city urban development concept. In MyTown, a network of 14 dorms is strategically located near Taguig’s Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and the Makati Central Business District.
“All the major offices, leisure, and entertainment establishments are within reasonable distance from our dormitories. A good number of our residents can go to their offices or the nearby malls within 15 minutes,” said Arellano.
MyTown recently conducted an in-house survey on transportation and commuting arrangements among its residents, and results show almost half of the respondents said that walking was their preferred mode of mobility. The rest either took motorcycle ride-hailing apps or public transport. Others even ride on e-scooters and bicycles.
In terms of travel time, 36 percent said that the commute took 10 to 15 minutes to get to work or school, and 19 percent said it took 15 to 20 minutes. Notably, 17 percent of respondents said that it took them less than 10 minutes to commute.
Arellano said, “Overall, we found that MyTown residents put into practice and appreciate the benefits of the 15-minute city lifestyle. It contributes to their productivity and well-being.”
SM’s push to build the “Integrated Lifestyle City”, which includes creating the 15-minute city, is exemplified in developments such as the Mall of Asia complex and SM Clark where condominiums, office buildings, MICE facilities, and even a school (National University) are built around SM malls that function as the modern community center.