The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Riza Lozada
Bringing back the open spaces, or “lungs,” of every Philippine city would signal the way to a “green” future, renowned architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. said recently.
During a forum held at the recent 20th Philippine World Building and Construction Exposition at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, Palafox—whose environment-friendly works include the La Mesa Dam and Fishermall in Quezon City, the mixed-use Rockwell Center in Makati City, and the new building of the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong City—said it’s unfortunate that, on the local front, it is always profit that serves as the motivating factor for development.
He said it was easier for him to convince clients from abroad to agree to invest in open spaces for amenities, as compared to prodding local city developers, who only consider such spaces as a “cost.”
“We have lost the lungs of the cities,” the architect lamented, pointing out that Metro Manila had a master plan that accommodates that; so did Baguio City, which has Burnham Park, which retains an open space.
According to him, striking a good balance between earning a profit and making a green city is possible by adhering to the three basic principles he adopted as an architect: first, people first, or social equity, regardless of income; second, putting importance on the environment; and third, earning a profit for economic growth.
Palafox said building cities that are suited for walking and riding bicycles would be ideal.
He suggested invigorating the housing sector by offering mobility to people, which would be possible by building dormitories near workplaces and addressing pro-walking transportation policies that are similar to the United States’.
He noted that, although Americans cities adopted the automotive practices of Europeans, they were able to reduce using automobiles in order to encourage walking.
Palafox said that, in the Philippines, the current transportation policy favors mobility by using vehicles, and not promoting “walkable” cities.
He noted that Makati City’s commercial and business district has a daytime population that is 11 times bigger than its nighttime population. He said the movement of this district’s population can be addressed by providing housing for working people, pointing out that an imbalance in housing exists.
Another concern he raised during the forum was the country’s current restrictions on land ownership of foreign investors, which allow them to lease for 25 years.
Palafox said designing buildings that are considered or certified as “green” last for 100 years because of quality materials that last over a century. Foreign investors are limited to investing in green buildings because of the prohibition on land ownership, he added.
The architect also said he would support efforts to get carbon credits once green cities are established in the country. He added that, right now, he does not recognize any initiative that quantifies the carbon credits that green buildings derive from adopting environment-friendly design, such as solar panels used for housing and buildings, and constructing green structures that last for more than a century.