PASAY CITY, PHILIPPINES — Visionary architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. delivered a keynote presentation at the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines’ May General Membership Meeting on May 20, unveiling a comprehensive roadmap for the nation’s future.
The presentation, titled “Postcards from the Future: The Philippines 2050 Well into 2100,” detailed ambitious strategies to transform the Philippines into a first-world country with a first-world economy. Speaking to business leaders and stakeholders, Palafox emphasized that the Philippines possesses immense potential with its rich natural and human resources. To capitalize on this, he outlined a future built on seamless connectivity, sustainable urbanism, and equitable infrastructure.
Key Highlights from the Presentation:
● Economic Surge: The Philippines is projected to become the 14th top economy in the world by 2075.
● Urban Expansion: With the national population expected to grow from 115 million in 2022 to an estimated 150 million by 2050 , the country requires 100 new cities.
● Polycentric Development: These new urban centers must be smart, sustainable, resilient, liveable, and spread out across the country.
● Seamless Connectivity: Palafox proposed extensive intercontinental and national networks encompassing highways, railways, bridges, and tunnel systems.
● Regional Integration: Connecting regions like Mindanao and the Visayas is crucial to balancing regional development, reducing economic disparities, and promoting inclusive growth.
● Equitable Infrastructure: Championing the principle that “those with less in wheels should have more in roads,” Palafox proposed a street allocation of 1/3 for pedestrians and cyclists, 1⁄3 for landscaping and greenery, and 1/3 for vehicles.
● Compact Communities: Communities should be master-planned around the concept of “15-Minute Cities, 10-Minute Communities and 5-Minute Neighborhoods” to reduce the need for urban transportation.
Palafox introduced the concept of “RE-CENTURY,” a call to re-imagine, re-plan, re-design, and re-engineer the built environment for the next hundred years. This approach aligns directly with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, utilizing them as a valuable guide for integrating people, the environment, and economic growth in future cities.
Realizing this bold vision requires addressing major national challenges head-on. Palafox noted that corruption, criminality, climate change, and inequality must be countered with good governance, peace and order, environmental stewardship, and equitable wealth distribution.
To prove that monumental urban transformations are possible, Palafox showcased the rapid evolution of Dubai from a fishing and pearling village in the 1960s to a modern metropolis known for trade, commerce, real estate, technology, and tourism.
