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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Exodus

Exodus

Published Jul 16, 2024 09:47 pm

OF TREES AND FOREST

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A piece of very interesting news caught my eye recently, various news organizations reported that “more people have left Metro Manila in the past five years than those coming into the National Capital Region.” This was a statement from an official of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The statement said that about half a million Metro Manila residents have left the region in the last five years compared to the 381,000 that have come in during the same period. 

What is even more interesting are the reasons people gave for deciding to move out of the metropolis. Most of those who relocated away from NCR said that they were able to buy house and lot in provinces outside the capital. This is understandable because it has become a bit prohibitive to buy a house in Metro Manila — one reason is the price, the other reason being the congestion in the city. 

In fact, the PSA added that a second reason for the “exodus of residents is the living environment.” The traffic, the pollution, and the overall quality of life has been really problematic in the capital. In fact, many have been willing to endure the long commute just to get out of the jungle that is Metro Manila.

Don’t get me wrong; I love Metro Manila. The region has a special place in my heart and in my life. I was born in Tondo so I am a Manileño at heart. I studied in UP Diliman so I also consider Quezon City a special place. And I worked in Makati City during the first years of my professional life. 

But I think everyone would agree that NCR has deteriorated terribly in the past few decades. It is no longer the metropolis I grew up loving as a Tondo boy. I still remember being able to go out in the streets, taking a deep breath and enjoying fresh air. You cannot do that today. Try doing that in EDSA or any other major thoroughfares.

And there are so many people now in the NCR. The PSA has noted that Metro Manila has a population density of 21,765 persons per square kilometer which is almost 60 times more than the population density at the national level. I have always been advocating for a change in development policy to one that will encourage our people to stay outside Metro Manila. We can only do this if we focus resources and development efforts toward the provinces.

Perhaps, one of the few positive effects of the horrifying Covid-19 pandemic was the opportunity given to Metro Manila residents to rethink their living conditions. It is increasingly becoming unsustainable to live in NCR. And I am sure that many of its residents will leave if they can find a suitable place to relocate.

This was one of the principles that I anchored my legacy project on. Villar City is envisioned to provide an alternative megalopolis. The developments of Makati City, Ortigas and even BGC were responses to the needs of their time. Villar City is a response not only to the needs of our time but also of the future. I want to build a city meant for this century — a smart and sustainable city with wide roads, modern systems, hi-tech telecommunications facilities, and a whole lot of greenery. 

I never liked those imaginings of the future where cars are flying and everything is made of some futuristic metal or aluminum. My future city will be green and there will be plenty of open spaces. And the canvas for this dream is a metropolis that has a size of 3,500 hectares, spanning 15 towns and cities in Metro Manila and Cavite. Right now we are at the next phase of development — we are planning to include more facilities such as two golf courses, a church, events arena, university and an integrated entertainment complex. Villar City will also be the home for a 119-hectare residential project called Forresta, which is a “city in the forest.”

If you think about it we do not like the congestion of a city but we do like the convenience, the technology, and the amenities that a city provides. We like the simplicity of provincial life but we also crave the city lifestyle. I hope Forresta, and Villar City, will offer that sweet spot that gives Filipinos a better quality of life. ([email protected] and/or http://www.mannyvillar.com)

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Of Trees And Forest FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT MANNY VILLAR
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