NEWS

By Aaron Recuenco | Manila Bulletin | February 13, 2025 10:15am

The national government is planning to create a new city in the province of Quezon as part of the future plan to decongest Metro Manila amid the adverse effects of rapid urbanization, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said.

DHSUD Jose Rizalino Acuzar said this is based on the instruction of President Marcos to craft a long-term plan for the decongestion of the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the perennial problems of monstrous traffic jams.

“The solution is to developed a large new city. There was a proposal to develop this near Quezon near the Pacific Ocean,” said Acuzar during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

Aside from the DHSUD, Acuzar said the plan is being discussed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“We are currently crafting this plan because this is important. Indonesia already has a similar plan, as well as Malaysia,” said Acuzar.

Acuzar is apparently referring to the plan of Indonesia to replace Jakarta as the country’s capital, the reason being the future negative effects of the rapid urbanization and excessive groundwater extraction.

The exact location was not revealed but Acuzar said they are still trying to consolidate around 70,000 hectares of land in Quezon province where the planned new city will be constructed.

“Once the 70,000 hectares of land is consolidated, then we will start the actual plan for it,” said Acuzar.

He said they expect to present the plan to the President once all the challenges in the planning stage are addressed.

The DHSUD chief, however, said there are ongoing Metro Manila decongestion plans, including the construction of townships and new housing communities that are decent, affordable and acceptable to the beneficiaries.

Source: Manila Bulletin

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