More green, less gray

Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, is on a mission to protect its remaining “urban green spaces”—a movement that has taken root in other countries but not so much in the Philippines.As typical of developing countries, development here is still viewed as the construction of buildings and infrastructure to indicate economic growth. Construction activities, of course, create jobs and the resulting urban environment with its modern cities, skyscrapers, and technology attracts investors that, in turn, could bring in much-needed capital to put up new businesses and create more jobs.

But such development, if unregulated, will not be good for the environment and will impact public health in the long term. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in 2019, reported that only about 12 percent of the land area in the National Capital Region (NCR) is green space. The La Mesa Ecopark accounts for nearly half of that area, and the open space within the Ninoy Aquino International Airport takes up about one-fourth. Other substantial green spaces include the Rizal Park in Manila, the Quezon City Memorial Circle, and the Rainforest Park in Pasig, while the rest are in golf courses or cemeteries. The Arroceros Forest Park, known as the “last lung of Manila,” has been constantly under threat due to “redevelopment” plans by different city government administrations.

Areas outside NCR would probably be better off in terms of green spaces but they are not immune to development activities. Many places have in fact seen the displacement of indigenous communities and the loss of natural zones due to infrastructure development, leaving fewer and fewer areas left for green spaces.

The lack of green spaces became very apparent at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a lack of multifunctional, highly ventilated areas where people, especially those in the cities, could go to break the monotony of staying indoors while not putting themselves at risk of getting infected. This was probably the reason why the controversial dolomite beach became an attraction, a respite for so many people whose mobility was limited during the severe lockdowns—something that the previous administration took advantage of to push for a politically popular but environmentally unsustainable open public space. That is, however, not the type of green space that the country needs and the government should conserve and protect.

There are several local governments that are pushing for sustainable development, including Iloilo whose zoning ordinance integrates biodiversity, cultural heritage, urban design, and green growth. Then there’s the previously mentioned move by Baguio whose city council recently approved on first reading an ordinance that would designate and preserve the city’s remaining urban green spaces. The measure is noteworthy given that Baguio, despite experiencing the downside of tourism and development, is one of the places in the Philippines that still has pockets of green spaces in its mountains, forests, and parks—an essential part of the city’s attraction and crucial to its survival.

The ordinance is meant to complement an ongoing scientific study on animal and plant life in the city. Recently, a group of biologists from the University of the Philippines Baguio discovered that biodiversity still exists within urban areas after they identified 18 bird, nine rodent, and 31 plant species in the Buyog watershed, a forest patch found between dense settlements in Quirino Hill and Pinget. Aside from preserving these species, Baguio officials acknowledge that urban green spaces enhance the city’s livability, environmental quality, and the overall well-being of the city’s residents, and can help combat climate change.

The World Health Organization recommends 9 square meters of open spaces per person but based on the Green City Index research, there is only an average of 5 sqm of open space per Filipino. Veteran environmental planner and architect Nathaniel von Einsiedel earlier pointed out that green space in Singapore, a smaller country, takes up 47 percent of its total land area. If Iloilo’s and Baguio’s endeavors are replicated across local governments, then surely the Philippines, with its vast land and natural resources, can do better than Singapore in allocating more green spaces even as it pursues its goals to become an industrialized country.

Development should not only come in the form of buildings and infrastructure that turn cities into concrete jungles. Genuine development should be about creating a livable world for everyone and that includes allocating green space that is essential for public health. Studies have shown that it can help lower premature mortality, lengthen life expectancy, help with mental illness, and lessen cardiovascular diseases. In the face of global warming, it can also help mitigate air pollution, and heat and noise levels. Isn’t it time that the country’s policymakers reset and rethink their mindsets about development from gray to green?