Cities with a soul: a call for equity and inclusion

Today, let’s talk about urban housing and set aside the drama and politics of hatred being perpetuated in the nation’s capital by a waning political brand.

Speaking of the nation’s capital, or more precisely the National Capital Region, I have been frequently traveling to Metro Manila over the past few months, almost weekly, for both job-related and civic matters. These trips have given me the chance to visit my new favorite spot in the capital each time I’m there before heading back to the airport: Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

BGC promotes itself as “a thoughtfully master-planned 240-hectare mixed-use estate located in the heart of Taguig City and the country’s leading central business and lifestyle district.” It further describes itself as “a City with a Soul” --rich with lush parks, open spaces, an active street life, and public art, including its iconic murals and sculptures. It is also branded as a 15-minute community, where everything you need is conveniently within reach.

I wholeheartedly agree with this description.

Some might argue that BGC is designed for the elite, but that is a misconception. I have never felt an exclusive or elitist vibe in BGC. Instead, I experienced the vibrancy of working-class young people thriving in the new economy, alongside typical families enjoying city life as it should be --with “lush parks, open spaces, an active street life,” and everything conveniently accessible within a 15-minute walk.

It's worth noting that BGC does not exist in a vacuum. It is surrounded by nearby communities from which it draws its service workers. The cities of Taguig and Makati, for example, understand the importance of supporting its informal settlers and working-class residents, recognizing that they form the backbone of a secure and contented service workforce in business districts like BGC.

Here in Cebu, the disconnect between urban planning and the actual needs of our residents is painfully evident in the 93-1 issue. A roadmap study for sustainable urban development in Metro Cebu, published by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2015, identified affordable housing for low-income households as one of six key areas requiring interventions at the metropolitan or local government level.

In an executive session last week, Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival thankfully brought attention to the long-standing and seemingly unresolved issue faced by “93-1” informal settlers. He explained that the Cebu City Government had already turned over the certificates of title for city-owned lots to the Cebu Province. In return, the Cebu Province transferred the titles for the lots covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 back to Cebu City --a move by previous city and provincial administrations intended to secure the land tenure of thousands of 93-1 residents. However, Archival pointed out that the current Cebu provincial administration had unilaterally revoked the memorandum of agreement that underpinned the “Land Swap Deal.”

Perhaps the Cebu Provincial Government is simply viewing the 93-1 issue from a cost-benefit perspective, aiming to maximize land use for what can generate more value and revenue for the local government as a public corporation. However, this business-centric approach to governance, which prioritizes immediate economic returns, often overlooks the long-term costs of social exclusion.

A roof over their heads and a stable foundation for their lives are simply what our low-income families deserve. People-centric urban planning, one that balances economic viability with social equity, is essential for sustainable, long-term development. Urban lands are not just spaces for commerce. They are homes, communities, and ecosystems where people, regardless of their status in life, can thrive together.