Quezon City Thesis Notes

Introduction to Quezon City, a short summary

Quezon City was created on October 12, 1939 by virtue of Commonwealth Act 502. It became the capital of the Philippines with the enactment of Republic Act No. 333 on July 17, 1948. In 1975, Quezon City became part of the larger urban governance scheme that is Metro Manila, with the creation of the Metropolitan Manila Commission by virtue of Presidential Decree 824. On July 24, 1976, then President Ferdinand E, Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 940, conferring the role of the nation's capital to Metro Manila, hence the name National Capital Region.

President Quezon himself served as the city's first Mayor and he later appointed Tomas Morato to the position. A long line of distinguished Mayors succeeded Morato in the stewardship of the city as follows: Ponciano Bernardo, Nicanor Roxas, Ignacio Santos Diaz, Norberto Amoranto, Adelina Rodriguez, Brigido Simon, Jr., Ishmael Mathay, Jr. and the incumbent Feliciano Belmonte, Jr,

While relatively a young City, great events that shaped the nation's course of history took place in fabled lands now part of Quezon City territory. The National Centennial Commission, tasked to spearhead appropriate commemoration of 100 years of Philippine Independence, has included Quezon City in the "FreedomTrail" highlighting places and important events in the struggle for freedom and sovereignty, including the historic "Cry of Pugad Lawin" led by the Great Plebeian, revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio on August 23, 1896, the People Power Revolution in EDSA that toppled the regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos and the installation of Corazon Aquino, as the 11th President of the Philippines.

Historical Highlights

Following is a collage of important dates and historical events about the City.



August 23,1896 - Bonifacio and his men tear their cedulas at Pugad Lawin and ignites the Filipino Revolution against the Spain.



October 10, 1938 - The People's Homesite Corp. purchases 1,529 hectares from the vast Diliman Estate of the Tuason Family as site of the future capital city.



September 28, 1939 - The National Assembly approves Bill No. 1206 proposing the creation of Quezon City.



October 12, 1939 - Pres. Quezon signs into law Commonwealth Act No. 502, officially establishing Quezon City, and assumes the position of Mayor in a concurrent capacity.



November 10,1939 - Tomas Morato is sworn into Office as Mayor of Quezon City.



March 11, 2003 - Assemblyman Guillermo Villanueva of Negros Oriental files a bill seeking to make Quezon City the seat of government of the Philippines.



December 17, 1945 - Pres. Osmena issues Proclamation No.32 launching the nationwide campaign to raise funds for the erection of a national monument in honor of Pres. Quezon.



January 1, 1946 - Ponciano Bernardo is appointed by Pres. Osmena as Mayor of Quezon City

J

uly 17, 1948 - Republic Act No. 333 slices Baesa, Talipapa, San Bartolome, Pasong Tamo, Novaliches, Banlat, Kabuyao, Pugad Lawin, Bagbag, Pasong Putik and other areas for Caloocan and cedes them to Quezon City.



February 4, 1954 - Pres. Magsaysay formally appoints Norberto S. Amoranto as acting Mayor of Quezon City.



June 16, 1956 - Republic Act 1575 is passed in the third session of the third Congress of the Philippines, amending and repealing certain sections of Quezon City. This law radically changes the geographic composition of the City.



November 30,1972 - The 1971 Constitution Convention is signed in Quezon City.



March 31, 1976 - Adelina Rodriguez succeeds Norberto S. Amoranto as Mayor of Quezon City.



March 31, 1978 - Pres. Marcos declares 1978 as Manuel L. Quezon Centennial Year.



January 1980 - In the first local elections after martial law, Adelina Rodriguez and Stephen Santo are elected mayor and vice mayor, respectively.



February 22-25,1986 - Quezon City is a site of the EDSA "People Power Revolution."



February 2, 1988 - Brigido Simon Jr., and Vicente Sotto are sworn into office as duly elected mayor and vice mayor, respectively.



Local Government Code of 1991 created a framework to transfer authority from the national government to the local government unit (LGU)

October 12, 1989 - Quezon City celebrates its Golden Jubilee.



July 1, 1992 - Ishmael A. Mathay Jr., is elected mayor with Charito Planas as vice mayor.



May 8, 1995 - The people of Quezon City gives Mathay another mandate . Herbert Bautista is elected vice mayor.



May 11, 1998 - Mayor Mathay is again re-elected for his third and final term. His running mate Connie Angeles is elected vice mayor.



July 1, 2001 - Feliciano Belmonte Jr., assumes office as elected mayor with Herbert Bautista as vice mayor.

Current History still to be studied…

Aquino steps in, stops QC demolition

ABS-CBN NEWS.com
Posted at 09/24/2010 2:58 PM | Updated as of 09/24/2010 2:58 PM

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Friday ordered an immediate stop to the relocation of thousands of families living in a shantytown near a major highway in Quezon City.

In a statement, Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr. said Aquino has instructed him to order the National Housing Authority (NHA) "to suspend the relocation of families living in the NHA property in Sitio San Roque II in North Triangle that oppose their transfer to the NHA's proposed relocation site in Rodriguez, Rizal."

"The relocation is suspended until the NHA provides a comprehensive plan that will ensure orderliness in the implementation of relocation activities," Ochoa said.

The executive secretary said Aquino is saddened by the events that transpired yesterday, which saw informal settlers rioting against NHA demolition teams. The riots injured 11 people and snarled traffic for hours on the northbound lane of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) after informal settlers blocked the highway.

The demolition was stopped after a local trial court judge issued a temporary restraining order in favor of the settlers.

"While the President respects the families’ right to oppose their relocation to Rizal, he nonetheless calls on them to exercise their right to protest in a peaceful manner. He has likewise instructed all authorities to exercise maximum tolerance and is confident that the issue will be resolved by the parties involved," Ochoa said.

NHA General Manager Chito Cruz earlier said at least 3,400 of the estimated 9,000 families on Sition San Roque have already transferred to relocation sites in Montalban and Rodriguez, Rizal. He said he is hoping that the remaining 5,000-plus families will follow suit.

Cruz said the NHA is spending more than P200,000 per family for the relocation. Each family can pay for their new homes for only P300 a month for the next 30 years.

He also brushed aside suggestions that the informal settlers should own the land since they have been developing it over the years.

"Not in all instances you can own the land you squat on. These are titled properties owned by the government," he said.

Quezon City Central Business District Background

The emerging QC-CBD, slightly more than 50 hectares compared to the current largest CBD in the country, offers the largest opportunities for large-scale urban development in the National Capital Region and can put not only Quezon City, but also the entire country at the forefront of global investment and business interest.

The 250.6-hectare CBD represents roughly 2% of Quezon City’s 16,112.12-hectare land area. The plan is to organize it into five “districts.”

The overall land use for the CBD is mixed-use, which will mean provision for the following principal land uses: office, residential, retail, institutional, recreational.

Expected to be the district with the highest densities of the QC-CBD is the 54.3 hectare-Triangle Exchange. It shall be a high traffic district, with the highest land values. Its commercial (office and retail), residential, and other land uses shall be fully integrated with EDSA’s transit facilities, thus providing the best regional link and commuter access. The Triangle Exchange is also envisioned to be the most active area of the Triangle Park, transforming its office daytime office and service environment into a dining and recreational center at night.

The Residences at Veterans shall be a mixed-use community with a residential focus in its 39.7 hectare land area. It shall allow a range of housing types, from high-rise condominiums to medium and lower density townhomes. Neighborhood retail and community services can also be developed, particularly along the North Avenue frontage.

The Downtown Hub (North and East) is a mixed-use, medium-density district with institutional services and facilities (medical, education, training, science, etc.) integrated with commercial and residential development. It may retain many of the existing facilities even as new residential and commercial developments are established. It has a land area of 54.1 hectares.

The Emporium shall be another mixed-use medium density district but focused on ICT activities, e-governance, public, voluntary, international offices or services along with commercial and residential developments. Institutional (e.g. university-based research and development) and commercial IT activities including customer contract centers, and other BPOs are perfectly suitable for this 37.9-hectare district.

Mixing culture, recreation, entertainment, and a bit of residences in a mixed-use park is the Commons (North and East) District. Residential developments in this 19.8-hectare district are comparable to the prime residences of Makati.

Massive infrastructure developments shall take place in the area within the next three years. It started with the opening of one of the country’s biggest malls, Ayala’s TriNoma. Programmed to follow in the coming months is the development of the Park Lane, designed to open up access to properties within the CBD.

It shall involve the extension of Mindanao Avenue that shall cut across the CBD up to EDSA. It is expected to significantly shave off traffic in the North Avenue-Mindanao Avenue intersection. Another is the redevelopment of the current road traversing the entire stretch of the CBD, from East Avenue to North Avenue with additional roads in the VMMC compound that carves a way to Quezon Avenue and cuts across from the middle of the CBD to EDSA’s busy highway. Basically, the road network shall pave the way for easy transportation within the CBD area and is expected to reduce significantly the traffic loads in tangential road systems.

February 3, 2011

-       Meeting with Arch. Lucille Chua, Head Urban Planner of Quezon City from the National Housing Authority via Marlin Espiritu, operative from the Center for Human Rights

Items discussed:

-       History of the area

-       Action Plan

-       Issues tackled

-       Relocation sites

North Triangle Development

-       Planned to be a CBD since the early 20^th century

-       Study pictures from Google Earth of the area to be allocated for the new CBD in Quezon City.

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North Triangle dwellers eye class suit vs. NHA over demolition

MARK D. MERUEÑAS, GMANews.TV

Residents being evicted from the North Triangle area in Quezon City on Saturday threatened to file a class suit against the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the violent demolition that left at least 14 people, including seven residents, wounded.

This was according to Edwin Nakpil, convenor of the North Triangle Coalition, which is composed of several residents’ associations in Sitio San Roque II, Barangay Bagong Pag-asa.

NHA personnel on Thursday started a large-scale demolition of houses in the community, as part of its P22-billion joint venture with Ayala Land to develop 29.1 hectares of the North Triangle into a so-called Central Business District that would supposedly to rival Makati City's business center.

Nakpil was quoted in a radio report as saying they will seek a dialogue with President Benigno Aquino III upon his return next week from an official US visit.

The convenor said the North Triangle residents plan to ask Aquino to form an independent body to investigate alleged abuses committed by authorities during the demolition.

While conceding that the NHA is the listed owner of the property, including Sitio San Roque, residents opposed the demolition, ultimately setting up barricades and physically resisting demolition teams on Thursday.

Hurt in the seven-hour long clash between the residents and authorities were not only residents but also firefighters and policemen, who were deployed in the area to maintain peace and order.

As a result of Thursday's violent clash, the President, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. ordered the NHA to suspend the dismantling of houses until the agency is able to provide a comprehensive plan for an orderly implementation of their relocation.

Prior to the President's order, acting presiding Judge Luisa Quijano-Padilla issued a temporary restraining order against demolition activities that expired 8 a.m. last Friday.

On-site development

Meanwhile, at a press conference also on Saturday, the protesting residents of North Triangle urged the government to set up an "on-site development" center or "in-city development" area inside the planned business district where they could re-settle, instead of relocating them outside the city or driving them back to the provinces.

The residents said they would only agree to leave North Triangle if the government assures them of relocation within Quezon City, and not to peripheral areas like the proposed relocation site in Southville-8B, barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.

The residents do not want to move to the Rodriguez site, citing studies supposedly showing that the relocation area was prone to soil erosion, Nakpil added.

The residents' threats came on the heels of Vice President Jejomar Binay's visit to the relocation site, which is being prepared to accommodate about 3,600 families.

Meeting with Quezon City urban/Regional Planner (February 3, 2011)

Due to National initiatives, the passing of the UDHA Law by Joey Lina which is the declaration of Central Business Districts (CBD) in the Philippines and the Anti-Squatting Law 777; states that there is a rationalization on the use of the land in the prime lot bear the Quezon Memorial Park; that such prime areas within the urban center should be developed and upgraded by capable private companies, Ayala. The enforcement of clearance is being handled by HUDCC and NHA.

From the meeting, I have been informed that the area is being developed by Ayala Land Corporation, they are offering social services, green standards and suitable housing mechanisms such as water recycling, materials recovery facilities, planters cooperatives, and etc with the help of local agencies.

On September 24, 2011, under the decree of the President Aquino; the affected informal settlers are allowed to have non-violent rallies, yet the undertaking of forced relocation will still take effect. 50% of the area has already been provided socialized row houses with a set deadline of clearance on June of this year.

Families’ get financial help according to their family size. (5-6 members per household) ranging P200 – P 3000. The distance of their original settlement to the relocation area is about 30 km with a 30 min. ride via car.

SITE VISIT at SOUTHVILLE- 8-B, via the

Urban Triangle Development Commission (February 11, 2011, 9:00 AM)

The informal settlers, with the help of the Metro Manila Hills Communities, the governor Ynares of Muntalban, Rizal, and San Jose Builders have allocated areas for the relocation project. Which is 58 hectares, which will house 9,000 households.

This area of Southville 8-B has been allotted for the victims of Ketsana, (Ondoy), These residents according to government census range from 3,000+ families in the Quezon City area.

One unit is of socialized / market size which is the minimum, one household would be 20 sqr.m. (1.5 for the extended bathroom) with a option to increase the size with a permit to 40 sqr.m for both the frontage and the rear of the lot.

Current facilities which are provided, yet will be upgraded soon when an ample amount of residents are to be serviced, are health centers, a school, playgrounds, basketball courts, and day care centers.

There are transportation nodes already in place. Mini-Buses (Jeepneys) and Motorcycle (Pedi-cabs) are prevalent in the area. The total cost of travel to the city is 55 pesos. 10 pesos to the gate of the Southville 8-B, 25 pesos via Jeep to Commonwealth avenue and 20-30 pesos to Quezon Avenue, the area being cleared for CBD development.

Electricity is currently temporary; Meralco has provided generators, which will be activated during peak hours. Current residents pay p 5 (individual application necessary) for the gas usage of such generators, Electricity lines will be provided when 70% of the area has been occupied.  The current residents use electricity for daily morning activities such as music and television for entertainment, computer shops and small shops.

 Shallow wells have been provided; these pipes are 3-5 meters in diameter with a jet pump and are drilled to an depth of 60-100 ft. for the residents to use. The residents complain that not all the wells are clean; some wells have soil particles and rust residue. They use techniques such as “sock” filters to clean the water for house usage, yet not for bathing. Drinking water is bought in containers provided by Manila Water Company. The residents of the area have to pay 2 pesos.

On this day, we were accompanied by a group of residents affected by a fire calamity on February 9, 2011; they affected residents were interested in relocating to the site allocated for the Ondoy victims.  They were accompanied by the government architect of the site, NGO’s from the Claretian Ministry and Barangay (LGU) captains of the affected sites. They surveyed the land of it’s existing facilities, the size of the lots, possible extensions to the row houses, the water and drainage facility, the recycling and waste management and the size of roads. I was interested in the different frontages of the row houses, how they developed and extended their lots with the help of joint-agreements with their neighbors, planted gardens on the pavements and allocated parking areas for their transportation business of motorbikes.

According to the architect on site, this area is an option for them to choose from, another site is at Barangay Gaya-Gaya, which is the Towerville development at San Jose, Delmonte. This option is given to them since the area still does not have enough housing stock for all the relocated residents. The speed of development in the building of ready to occupy row houses is 500 - 650 houses per week.

These relocation areas are so-called a “one time” government award to these disaster stricken residents. A monetary arrangement for the residents to gain a Torrens Certificate of Title is provided after a 25 year amortization payment. The arrangement is that the first year is free, they have to yearly pay 20- 200 pesos until they graduate and disburse 700 peso payments. Residents who avail early are privy to special arrangements such as strategic locations. Examples of such choice lots are sari-sari stores (convenience stores) beside the schools where market proximity to consumers are important. This is the story of Ana, who has chosen to leave her core group to be located in this development. There are 5 core groups that are affected by the slum clearance in Quezon City, each core group have a range of 10,000+ households. She has decided on her own to separate from her core group and relocate with her family beside the school. Today, she now owns a store adjacent to the newly constructed school; She has extended her house to the full 40 sqr.m. and  expects to get benefits once the area is developed.

There are control measures in place that are necessary for such residents to avail of these sites and services with furnishings are provided only after a resident is secured of his lot allocation to prevent from stealing of the furnishings such as doors, windows and a toilet. Some of the control measures are family pictures, birth certificates, marriage contracts, SSS, working permit (PRC) and etc. These requirements will be very hard for the informal settlers to avail since flood disasters and/or fire victims have had their documents and requirements ruined and/or burned.

SITE VISIT at SOUTHVILLE- 8-A, via the

Urban Triangle Development Commission (February 11, 2011, 11:30 AM)

After our visit to newly built relocation site, we decided to visit an earlier development of the area which is SOUTHVILLE 8-A. We saw significant differences; such as Meralco lines with meters, water meters from NAWASA and houses which have been upgraded to two floors.

SITE VISIT at KBR Action Center at the Downtown Hub, via the

Urban Triangle Development Commission (February 11, 2011, 1:00 PM)

This area was barren and was the base for the National Housing Authority to gather and collect date from the fire stricken victims of the area. They have made a census of the people in the area, yet this census is dated 2009. Documents from the Barangay Hall and the NHA are required for them to transfer to SOUTHVILLE at Muntinlupa, Rizal and/or TOWERVILLE at San Jose, Del monte. According to the census, a basis was made according to a lot allocation system, which is based on contracts, and legal documents that are necessary for transferring residents. The census counts 7,000 families with X,XXX households.

From my visit, I noticed many trucks, vans and a shuttle bus which are being donated by the government and the developer for the smooth relocation of the informal dwellers. During this day, I was told that the next day at 7:00-9:00 AM, a new batch of relocated settlers will be availing of their lots; they will be offered air-conditioned vans for their trip, trucks to carry their belongings and a shuttle bus for officials and NGOs.

During this day, the Botanical Clean Up Drive was in effect, they are located at the residences of the veterans in the Google earth map (East Triangle Development); they were the victims of the fire just days ago. The government officials were there to make a census of the affected people, to get personal information of families, their size, birthdays and etc. There were rumors of syndicates who have rebuilt their houses on the burned remains of the area. There is need to inform them of the free houses provided by the government which are in good condition once it reaches a proper population density of 70% meant to be prime for usage and utilization of vital utilities. I see that these people who have rebuilt their houses with light materials as a sign of early mitigation measure for their children and health in the coming month’s in their relocation experience.

1^st Short Meeting of PIAC in the National Housing Authority via the

Urban Triangle Development Commission (February 11, 2011, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM)

People Involved in Project for Inter-Agency Committee (PIAC):

Marlin Espiritu + Arnold from the Center for Human Rights,

Architect Lucille and Engineer Victor Lava, the chief project manager for the National Capital Region from the NHA

Office of the Speaker, Congressman Delmonte reprasentative, Santos

The Quezon City Police Department; from Camp Caringal

            Senior Inspector & SPO2 Arman

2 Barangay Captains from the Botanical Incident

            Christopher Irko, Estemino Amili

6 Barangay Representatives from Barangay Central

4 from the NGOs (+ Claretian Missionary Immaculate of Mary Parish)

            Niser Natulya

This meeting was an urgent response to a request of a crying victim (to be interviewed) to the be allowed to relocate after the demise of their livelihood and informal settlement after the fire. This meeting was a social preparation for proper planning as explained by Eng. Lava. The names and attendants were recorded, as well as the minutes of the meeting. 

The objectives of the meeting was to explain the predicament of the current displaced settlers and how they can properly mitigate relocation. NGO’s and GAMBANA were in attendance. There was a need for a common vision, where everyone could have a say. The NHA was given the chairman role of the meeting.

The concerns expressed by the residents of East Triangle were their feelings regarding the site, the water, it’s delivery and the electricity.

http://www.mb.com.ph/node/303219/quezon-city-fire-leave

By JEFFREY G. DAMICOG

February 8, 2011, 7:08pm

MANILA, Philippines – Eleven persons were hurt while some 4,000 families were rendered homeless during a fire that lasted for around eight hours until Tuesday morning and razed a neighborhood in Quezon City.

Investigator SFO3 Renato Delamidi said around 600 homes, mostly shanties, were burned in Barangay Central.

Delamidi said 11 residents in the area suffered injuries during the fire, including difficulty in breathing, lacerations and puncture wounds.

The fire also left some 4,000 families homeless in the area where an estimated P20 million worth of properties were destroyed.

It was found that the fire originated from the second floor of the two-story shanty of Antonio Dionido.

The fire was reported to have started at around 10:45 p.m. Monday.

Delamidi said the fire lasted for around eight hours. Firefighters had the fire under control at 4 a.m. Tuesday and put out the last flames at 7:02 a.m.

Meanwhile, a one-hour fire hit Monday afternoon a residential compound destroying some 40 houses in Malabon City.

Chief Insp. Rodrigo Reyes, Malabon City fire marshal, said the fire started at about 2 p.m. in a house along Palmario Street in Barangay Tonsuya which quickly spread to adjacent structures.

Probers said some residents suffered burns and bruises while trying to save their belongings from their houses.

The fire was the fourth to hit the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela area in a span of one week including a fire in Navotas City which killed 12 persons.

The cause of the fire is still being determined while damage to properties is still being assessed by arson probers. (With a report from Willie L. Catapat)