#MINDANAO

Last week’s column discussed some challenges faced by our cities and ended by stating the fact that 54 percent of Filipinos now live in urban areas. This is a fact that has dawned upon us in the last few years. This comes with the realization that urban Philippines is not just Metro Manila, but many other highly urbanized cities as well. A look at the Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro skyline already shows you how urban these areas are, as high-rise buildings once seen only in Metro Manila now dot these cities.

In many smaller cities, taxis are now available where once tricycles exclusively roamed the streets. Many Philippine cities have also evolved their own urban culture, creating identities distinct from Metro Manila      

While we mentioned urban transport requirements and a greater demand for food and electricity in last week's column, more urbanization also means that more of us will need to live in areas where space will need to be maximized. This means that real property developers will need to use innovative designs to ensure the use of space in a manner that makes family life livable. The architecture and interior design professions will need to develop solutions for smaller spaces.  

Moreover, with the climate challenge, it will need to integrate food production in urban areas by utilizing means such as the use of green spaces in condominium complexes. This can help ease possible food supply issues when production areas are far. This can also ensure affordable food, especially for lower income urban dwellers.

Another is ensuring that urban areas are safe from flooding. Most of our cities are located in coastal areas near river deltas that drain nearby plains and highlands. During times of excessive rainfall, as we have seen in recent years, floods occur.

I recall 2009 when typhoons Ondoy and Frank left Metro Manila and Iloilo inundated. Millions in the eastern area of the National Capital Region were affected by the flooding for days. Back then I lived in a condominium so I was spared from the flooding. Others from my family were affected.   

To mitigate flooding risks there will therefore need to be measures to manage possible floods, especially from upland areas. I will leave the solutions to experts such as engineers and hydrologists to provide long-term, collaborative solutions that encompass watershed management and engineering measures to manage downstream flooding and possibly harness flood waters.

Water impoundment systems can be built to gather water for agricultural irrigation or even mini hydroelectric plants while mitigating flood risks. Perhaps the various engineering schools can take up this challenge as an innovation project under the Regional Development Council.

These measures will help us design more livable Filipino cities. As government and private sector entities and civil society groups can work together to find solutions as a public-private partnership endeavor. This collaboration will leave a lasting legacy of strong united efforts for future generations. The time is now and the call is strong for this to take place.  

Preparing for Lent
 

Ash Wednesday, which heralds the entry of Lent in the Roman Catholic calendar is a time to reflect on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a time to take stock of our spiritual lives and how strongly we have followed the teachings of Jesus, and become light to the world to encourage more to follow him. May we all have a meaningful Lenten season.