AR452: Intro to Urban and Regional Planning

Characterizing
and Defining CITIES
Arch. Eduardo F. Bober, Jr., PhD Cand.
TIP-QC Special Industry Lecturer
Cities
 Have distinct cultural
(heterogeneity), economic,
demographic, political
characteristics.
 In the past, they are usually
market or trading centers,
and focal points from
public administration of the
state’s citizens.
City Characteristics
Primary Secondary Others
Size and Density Monumental public works Transportation
Full-time specialization Long-distance trade
Concentration of surplus Standardized Communication
monumental artworks
Class-structured society Writing
State organization Arithmetic, geometry, Environmental
astronomy considerations

Early Civilizations Characteristics

Centralization Ideologies of progress Taxation
Domestication Supremacism Farming
Specialization Monumental architecture Expansionism
Important NOTES
Elements of Urban Structure
 Large number of people SOURCE: History of Cities and City Planning_Cliff Ellis
requires some form of
 Networks – array of
government
pathways to carry flows of
 Specialization leading to people, goods, water,
development of energy, and information.
technology, science and
 Buildings – the most visible
wide variety of institutions
part of a city.
 Trade linkages may be
 Open Spaces – amenities
created in other areas in
that contributes to quality
order to exchange
of urban life.
agricultural goods.

Life-cycle of Cities
 Rapid growth  Slow growth  Shrinkage  Decay  Renewal/Revitalization
Different views in defining/characterizing Cities
TYPE CHARACTERISTICS
Cultural state of mind, a body of customs and traditions, a
society of formal relations rather than a folk
community.
Economic A place where more than half of the
labor forces is engaged in non-agricultural work; or
a site where there is a bulk of processing and
services.
Political The site of certain administrative functions; where
governance is done.
Demographic A place where certain number of people, with a
certain density live.
Ecological A place where the environment is modified to fit
and enhance the living conditions of the
inhabitants.
Different views in defining/characterizing Cities
 The city is what it is because our citizens are what they are (Plato)
 A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one (Aristotle)
 All cities are mad: but the madness is gallant. All cities are beautiful: but the
beauty is grim. (Christopher Morley, Where the Blue Begins)
 A great city is that which has the greatest men and women (Walt Whitman)
 A city is the people, resources, leaders and structures (Anonymous)

A city is an area consisting of more urbanized and developed

barangay which serves as a general-purpose government for
the coordination and delivery of basic, regular and direct
services and effective governance of the inhabitants within its
jurisdiction (territorial).
Cities in the Philippines

City Classification
 Highly Urbanized Cities (HUCs): min.
population of 200,000 and latest
annual income of PhP50 million (33);
 Independent Component Cities
(ICCs): cities whose charters prohibit
their voters from voting for provincial
elective officials;
 Component Cities which do not meet
the requirements for HUCs and ICCs
(108).
 Why Convert?
 Effectual changes in their fiscal
status.
 Political payoffs

RA No. 9009 (amended RA 7160 by

increasing the income requirements)
 Average annual income of Php100
million in the last two consecutive
years and EITHER:
 Having a population of at least
150,000 OR
 A contiguous territory of 100 square
kilometers
Cities and other urban areas definition
 URBAN - that of or pertaining to a city; structures
and ways of life that are characteristics of cities
and/or living in a city. TOWN is a term
commonly used in the UK, and its former
colonies in place of cities. RURAL (COUNTRY) –
areas outside the poblacion.
 METROPOLIS/METROPOLITAN (areas) region
(from the Greek “mother city”) – a big city, in
most cases with at least 1M inhabitants. A
relatively large area that could have formed
through the gradual expansion of the urban
core.
 MEGALOPOLIS - an extended metropolitan
area, or a chain of roughly
continuous metropolitan areas. Coined by
geographer Jean Gottman, 1915-1994.
Cities and other urban areas definition
 CONURBATION - a term coined  WORLD CITY or GLOBAL CITY – a city with
in 1915 by Patrick Geddes, a direct and tangible effect on global
Scottish biologist/botanist affairs by socio-economic means; it may
have been coined, or at least used by
(1854-1932) to describe a built-
American sociologists and economists.
up area created by the
coalescence of once a
separate urban settlements. It 5 standard dimensions: •New York City
is nowadays often used to - Business activity •London
describe multi-nodal functional - Human capital •Paris
urban units. - information exchange
•Tokyo
- Cultural experience
 MEGACITY - urban development •Los Angeles
- Political engagement.
with more than 10M inhabitants.
Metro Manila, an agglomeration
Increased attention is being paid to
of 17 cities with 11.5M population
processes of globalization.
(2007 census) is a megacity by
UN definition.
Philippines Definition of Urban Areas (NSCB)
 Poblacion, CBD of cities or municipalities with 50,000 population with some
scattered industrial establishment.
 All cities regardless of population density and municipality with a population
density of 500 persons per square kilometers.
 All barangay, or portion of which comprising the poblacion (CBD), and other
built-up areas including urbanizable lands in and adjacent to said areas with
50% of the population are engaged in non-agricultural activities.
 If a barangay has a population size of 5,000 or more, then it is considered
urban OR if a barangay has at least one medium or one large
establishment*, or barangay facilities**, then a barangay is considered urban.
* Establishment defined according to size of employees as follows:
Small : 10-99 employees
Medium : 100-199 employees
Large : 200 and over employees
** Presence of facilities in the barangay also considers the 2KM radius distance from
the barangay hall, if the facility is not present in the barangay.
Philippines Definition of Urbanized Areas (NSCB)
 In their entirety, ALL cities and municipalities having a population
density of 1000 persons per square kilometers
 Poblaciones/central districts of municipalities and cities: 500 persons
per square kilometers
 Poblaciones/central districts [not included in (a) or (b)] which HAVE:
network of streets, 6 establishments (commercial, manufacturing,,
recreational, and/or personal services) AND at least 3 of the
following:
 town hall, church/chapel with religious service once a month, public plaza, park
or cemetery, market place, or building where trading activities takes place once
a week, public building like school, hospital, puericulture, health center and
library.
 Barangays having at least 1000 inhabitants which meet the
conditions set forth in [c] above, and where the occupation of the
inhabitants is predominantly non-farming or fishing.
Why the Need for a Definition of
Urban Areas?
 The classification
and definition of
urban areas is an
important indicator
for many data users
as it provides for
sound policies and
decisions pertaining
to urban planning
and delivery of
basic services.
Examples of Basic Services used in Urban
Planning
[] Every municipality/city should have at least one (1) MHC/CHC (for every 50,000
pop)
Standard area:
Municipal Hospital = 1.5 has
Provincial Hospital = 1.5 has
Regional Hospital = 2.5 has
Medical Center = 3.5 has

[] Every 500 families (HH) must have 1 day care (RA 6972)
[] Senior Citizen Center @ least 500 sqm (RA 7876)
[] Ideal Police-Pop Ratio = 1:500 pax (ideal)/1:1000 pax (standard)
[] Fireman-Pop Ratio = 1:2000pax/Fire Truck-Pop Ratio = 1:28,000pax
[] Fire Truck-Fireman = 1:14FO
[] Jail Guard-Inmate Pop Ratio = 1:5 (ideal)/1:7 (standard)
[] Classification of Police Stations By Population
STANDARDS in R.H.U Personnel
Population (R.A. 1082) Colleges and Universities
500 or less students 0.50 has.
501 to 1,000 1.00 has
1,001 to 2,000 2.00 has

STANDARDS for Physical Plant and 2,000 to 3,000 3.00 has

Facilities of Colleges and Universities *Same RATIO for enrollment in excess of 3,000
Planning standards are requirements approved by laws to
guide physical development in a particular area at a particular
time or the minimum standard required to achieve benefits for
public; purposes of which are:

 Ensure conformity of development.

 As a development control mechanism so that the physical development of an
area will comply to the needs and requirements of the population of the area
effectively.
 Ensure health, safety, comfort and interest of public in terms of the quality of
the environment is orderly, harmonious and well protected.
 Ensure the physical facilities and infrastructure such as schools, religious and
recreational facilities; water supply, electricity, communication, and sewerage
systems are developed accordingly.
 Ensure physical development is not polluted and the natural environment can
be protected hence, ensuring good air, water and other environmental
qualities.
End of Presentation. Thank you.