‘Transportation, affordable housing key to cities’ growth’

MANILA, Philippines — An efficient transportation system and more affordable housing supported by coordinated land and economic planning are key to maintaining growth in developing Asia’s expanding cities, the Asian Development Bank said in a report.

In a theme chapter of the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2019 Update, the Manila-based multilateral bank said key cities in developing Asia are now rapidly expanding because of development and migration.

“Asia’s cities have been important contributors to economic growth, job creation, and innovation, but this isn’t a foregone conclusion for future decades,” said ADB chief economist Yasuyuki Sawada.

“Addressing weak infrastructure, congestion, housing, and education and health care services is critical if cities–and their host countries–are to remain dynamic,” he added.

The report said the region’s urban population has risen by five times from 375 million in 1970 to 1.84 billion in 2017. By 2050, it is expected to reach about three billion people, or around 64 percent of the region’s population. Cities are also growing geographically, often beyond pre-defined administrative boundaries, and connecting with surrounding areas to form city clusters.

ADB estimates that developing Asia in 2016 had 1,459 so-called natural cities, of which 28 are home to more than 10 million people.

To function as a vibrant jobs market, the report said cities need affordable and efficient public transport that combines trains, buses, ride sharing and more informal services–like jeepneys and auto rickshaws–that are well regulated.

This would cut the congestion already prevalent in cities such as Manila, Kuala Lumpur and Yangon.

Among 278 cities with population of more than five million, Metro Manila was found to be the most congested along with Kuala Lumpur, Yangon City and Dhaka.

With a congestion index score of around 1.5, Metro Manila’s congestion level is higher than the average of 1.25 across the cities studied.

This means more time is needed to get to one point of Metro Manila from another through the use of both public and private transportation.

Congestion occurs when the demand for travel exceeds the maximum capacity of the transportation network in a city, according to the report.

ADB director for macroeconomics, economic research and regional cooperation Adbul Abiad said the study also found out that there are many areas in Metro Manila that are inaccessible without private transportation.