Urban Sprawl and Land Use Characteristics in the Urban Fringe of Metro Manila, Philippines

Census data and GIS were used to examine population growth rate patterns, changes in land use and the characteristics of mixed land use in Metro Manila, Philippines, one of the most rapidly growing cities in Southeast Asia. Small-scale analysis of land use change in the urban fringe of Metro Manila was carried out to understand past and ongoing land use changes. A highly complex mixture of urbanized and agricultural land was observed to spread like a belt around the center of the city. This area was found to be absorbing rapid population growth in Metro Manila. In the fringe of Metro Manila, rapid urban growth was absorbed by two types of residential areas: squatter residential areas that expanded along the main street, and a subdivision development on backmarsh land that had formerly been used as paddy fields. The study found the latter development caused many environmental problems, and that a strategy to avoid such developments and to control urban and rural land use is needed.