Palafox says Duterte right for predicting ‘dead’ Metro Manila by 2042

A well-respected figure in urban planning and architecture said on Friday that President Rodrigo Duterte was right to predict a "dead" Metro Manila by 2042, or in 25 years' time.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, architect Jun Palafox not only agreed with the President but also said that Metro Manila's deterioration has actually begun.

"It's happening now. In 1976 I worked with the World Bank... for Metro Manila. What we said then, Metro Plan Manila, it was one of the best metro plans in the world. Kaya ako nakilala overseas," said Palafox, founder of the architecture firm Palafox Associates and has lent his expertise in 38 countries.

"We said that time, with the do-nothing scenario, we will have catastrophic traffic, catastrophic planning, lack of decent housing. And what do we have now?" he added.

He said Metro Manila should have completed eight train lines by 1992, but lamented how in the past six years, only 4 kilometers of roads had been built.

On Thursday, Duterte pitched for the development of more cities in the Philippines, saying Metro Manila will be a dead "city" in 25 years.

"Manila I think will be in about 25 years, will be a dead city. It will start to decay and there is no way that we can rehab the place," he added. Metro Manila is a region, which includes the Philippine capital and city of Manila.

On Friday, Palafox also expressed dismay at the cutting down of thousands of hundred-year-old trees along McArthur Highway, which he pointed out was vital in providing fresh air amid the pollution in the city.

Palafox slammed the government for disregarding his suggestions, only to plagiarize his ideas once disaster strikes.

"Sa bayan natin, magpropose ako, iniinsulto pa ko na alarmist daw ako, hungry for publicity. Then kapag disaster na, they plagiarize my recommendation," he said.

He added that corruption remained to be one of the main problems beleaguering the country.

"Pag walang korupsyon, we are number 16th economy in the world. Kung walang korupsyon," he said.

However, Palafox remained optimistic that the city could still be salvaged, citing as models the masterplans for cities such as Davao and Clark which had been winning in competitions.

"Nanalo kami ng competition, Metro Davao, zero corruption. Nanalo rin kami ng masterplan ng Clark, zero corruption. So pwede pala magkaroon ng government project, zero corruption," he said. — MDM, GMA News