Coping with an emerging megacity
By Charles E. Buban
THE UNITED Nations Human Settlements Program (UN–Habitat) defines a “mega city” as a city with 20 million or more inhabitants. While Metro Manila is not yet considered one (compared to Shanghai, Tokyo, Mumbai, London or New York), its growing population—currently pegged at around 12 million—may soon find itself merging with another densely populated region of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) that also now has around 12 million inhabitants.