V.

INTRODUCTION

Manila, capital and chief city of the Philippines. The city is the centre of the country’s economic, political, social, and cultural activity. It is located on the island
of Luzon and spreads along the eastern shore of Manila Bay at the mouth of the Pasig River. The city’s name, originally Maynilad, is derived from that of
the nilad plant, a flowering shrub adapted to marshy conditions, which once grew profusely along the banks of the river; the name was shortened first to Maynila
and then to its present form. In 1975, by presidential decree, Manila and its contiguous cities and municipalities were integrated to function as a single
administrative region, known as Metropolitan Manila (also called the National Capital Region); the Manila city proper encompasses only a small proportion of that
area.

Manila has been the principal city of the Philippines for four centuries and is the centre of its industrial development as well as the international port of entry. It is
situated on one of the finest sheltered harbours of the Pacific region, about 700 miles (1,100 km) southeast of Hong Kong. The city has undergone rapid economic
development since its destruction in World War II and its subsequent rebuilding; it is now plagued with the familiar urban problems of pollution, traffic congestion,
and overpopulation. Measures have been taken, however, to ameliorate those problems. Area city, 15 square miles (38 square km); National Capital Region, 244
square miles (633 square km). Pop. (2000) city, 1,581,082; National Capital Region, 9,932,560; (2010) city, 1,652,171; National Capital Region, 11,855,975.

The city is dotted with palms, banyans, acacias, and other tropical trees, and bamboo grows in many public parks. Domestic mammals—such as water buffalo,
horses, dogs, pigs, and goats—are common, while wild birdlife includes shrikes, doves, and pigeons. Manila Bay abounds
with sardines, anchovies, mackerel, tuna, snappers, and barracuda. The city’s natural beauty is marred, however, by air and water pollution caused by the
expansion of industry and the growing number of motor vehicles.

Like many developing cities in National Capital Region (NCR), the City of Manila is experiencing rapid urbanization. This is accompanied by several challenges that
require managing its urban environment. Moreover, this rapid urbanization has not generated the accompanying prosperity that characterizes cities. Rather, the
Philippines is facing issues with poverty, transportation, industry, sewage and sanitation, water supply and financing urban development as the country grows and
urbanizes. At the national and local levels, different efforts have been attempted to manage these urban environmental difficulties; yet the urban challenges remain
daunting.
As urban environments increasingly become a central issue in the twenty-first century, compounded by rapid urbanization and climate change, the adoption of
urban environmental management initiatives is crucial. That is because urban environmental management provides a framework to mainstream a multitude of
issues confronting urban areas through urban planning and development. Different instruments related to the process, planning and management of urban
environmental challenges can help cities to promote urban environmental management. The success of these instruments, in addition to other interventions, will
prove whether progress is being made in preventing, mitigating, and managing urban environmental challenges.

VI. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE CITY

Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century, there already existed a small settlement at the mouth of the Pasig River. It was called Maynilad because of
the proliferation of the nilad plant along its shores.

At the time of Spanish contact, Maynilad was already a thriving community under the coordinated leadership of two rajahs, one called Matanda (“Old One"), and
the other, his nephew, called Rajah Sulayman. Rajah Sulayman had considerable power: he controlled the traffic, into and out of the Pasig, of Chinese vessels that
conducted trade with settlements in the interior. Archaeological evidences and ancient documents reveal that Manila was an established entrepot and a political
and military nerve center of the region around the Manila Bay long before the coming of the Spaniards.

When the conquistadores arrived in 1565, they found large, prosperous pallisaded communities. As soon as news of these settlements reached Miguel Lopez de
Legaspi, head of the Spanish expedition, he set out to conquer them. Two battles were fought over Maynila, 'the second ending with a decisive victory for the
Spaniards.

Recognizing the strategic position of Maynila as a trading center and military outpost, Legaspi promptly declared the area the capital of Spain's new colonies on
June 24, 1571. The King of Spain, delighted over its new territory, awarded the City a coat of arms and the grandiose title MThe Noble and Ever Loyal City." A plan
for the City was first drafted based on King Philip II's Royal Ordinance issued on July 3, 1573 in San Lorenzo, Spain.

The families who were displaced from Sulayman's fort established a new settlement south of the new Spanish stronghold. This area came to be known as
Bagumbayan and was located in the area now occupied by the Rizal Park.
The Spanish settlement was perenially threatened by piracy and attempts at invasion. This necessitated the building of walls. What began as a wooden enclosure
became a fortification. Eventually a walled city 1.2 square kilometers in area rose at the mouth of the Pasig River. Until the beginning of the nineteenth century,
Intramuros was the city of Manila.

Spanish colonization was carried out not just by the sword but by the cross. In fact, the establishment of Spanish settlements allover the country were entrusted to
and carried out by missionaries. The first community to be brought under the bells" outside of Intramuros was Sapa which the colonizers renamed Santa Ana.

To build Intramuros, the Spaniards enlisted the services of the Chinese and, inevitably, a Chinese community grew outside of the city's walls. A flea market in the
Chinese quarter outside its northeast gate supplied the residents with food and other necessities. Indio carpenters and masons who worked in the city during the
day, had to leave by night; the city was exclusive to Spaniards. In time Intramuros became crowded; some of its residents, grown wealthy from the lucrative
Manila-Acapulco trade, established secondary homes in choice locations to escape the congestion of the city. Thus were laid the seeds of new towns that
eventually became the suburbs of Intramuros.

By the beginning of the 19th century, there were Ermita, Malate and San Fernando de Dilao on the left bank of the Pasig; and Binondo, Tondo, Santa Cruz,
Quiapo, San Miguel and Sampaloc on the right bank. Santa Ana and Pandacan were as yet small independent towns functionally linked to the emerging
metropolis. In these localities, members of all races could set up their residences although some came to have racial identification: Binondo became predominantly
Chinese and Dilao Japanese.

The latter part of the 19th century saw the Filipinos take up arms and declare its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. The Spaniards, not wanting to
surrender to the Filipinos, entered into an agreement, the Treaty of Paris, with the Americans. After a mock battle in Manila Bay, the Philippines was passed from
one colonial master to another.

Under the Americans, Manila remained the seat of political power. On July 31, 1901, Manila became the first chartered city by virtue of Act 183 of the Philippine
Commission. It constituted the inhabitants of Manila into a municipality "which shall be known as the City of Manila to succeed and to possess all the rights of
property herein granted or heretofore enjoyed and possessed by it as organized under the Spanish sovereignty.' This made Manila the first city in the country to
gain local autonomy.
In October 1903 the Municipal Board of Manila requested the Philippine Commission to secure the services of an expert architect and landscape engineer to
prepare a plan for the general improvement of the city. In December 1904, Daniel H. Burnham and his assistant Pierce Anderson arrived in Manila to study existing
conditions of its environs. Their report, along with detailed plans and descriptions were submitted in January 1906 and adopted by the Board in June 1906.

Burnham's plan for Manila was in many respects patterned after his design for San Francisco, using the same planning principles that had been applied on the
Chicago Fair and the city of Washington D.C. Generally, the Burnham Plan put great emphasis on the Civic Center, linked to various points of the city through wide
radial boulevards.

As the country's premier city, Manila's business and commercial activities intensified. Binondo, Port Area, Southern Manila Bay and other districts became
industrialized. Social and cultural institutions proliferated. The Second World War in 1941-44 left the city in ruins. In the Pacific region, Manila was the most
devastated capital: thousands died and historical landmarks were erased from the earth.

The New Philippine Republic wasted no time in rehabilitating the city. It set up the National Urban Planning Commission especially to address the needs of the
war-torn land. Politically, there was a hankering for change among Manila's citizens as well. Republic Act 409 otherwise known as the Revised Charter of the City
of Manila satisfied their desire for a more autonomous city government. Under this new charter, Arsenio H. laeson and Bartolome Gatmaitan became the first
elective officials (Mayor and Vice Mayor respectively) of the city.

The revised charter also provided for a bigger board membership, from 10 councilors elected at large, to 12 councilors elected by district, with three
representatives coming from each district. For this purpose and as well as for purposes of national representation, the city was divided into four congressional
districts as follows: District I: Tondo; District II: San Nicolas, Binondo, Quiapo and Santa Cruz; District III: Sampaloc and San Miguel; District IV: Intramuros, Port
Area, Ermita, Malate, Paco, Pandacan and Santa Ana.

Reclamation projects along Manila bay begun in 1910 continued during the period 1956-1963, when 278 hectares were added to the Tondo area. By 1966 half of
the reclaimed area had been occupied by squatters so that the first housing project undertaken by the national government was located there.

The City's perceived prosperity and reputation as a "land of opportunities" became a magnet for migrants from the provinces and its population increased even as
many Manila districts started to lose its old residents. By 1970, Manila had more out-migrants" than "in-migrants" though its population continued to grow.
Local governments were not only restored by the 1986 Revolution; they were greatly empowered. Many of the functions and services that used to be the preserve
of national agencies have been passed on to the care of the City's administrators.

The 1987 Constitution divided Manila into the present day six congressional districts. The first city election under the new Constitution was held in January 18,
1988. Expectedly, the city experiences the problems that accompany exceedingly high concentrations of people: housing shortages, unemployment, traffic
congestion, problems regarding safety, peace and order, health and sanitation. In response to these challenges the present administration has begun a
multifaceted revitalization program.