Assessing the Viability of the 15-Minute City Model in Metro Manila

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.82191/lseidr.110

Keywords:

Philippines, Metro Manila, 15-Minute City Model, Informal settlements, Inner City Districts, Outer Suburbs, Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, Manila, Makati, Navotas, Malabon, Taguig, Las Pinas, Quezon City, Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Pateros, Pasay, Caloocan, San Juan, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Valenzuela, Pasig

Abstract

Metro Manila’s rapid urbanization and socio-spatial fragmentation pose significant challenges to equitable development, particularly regarding access to essential services. This study explores the feasibility of the 15-minute city concept as a potential framework for enhancing urban mobility, accessibility, and quality of life across three distinct urban typologies—informal settlements, inner-city districts, and outer suburbs. Drawing on UN-Habitat definitions (2016), these typologies vary greatly in population density, floor area ratio, and dwelling sizes, necessitating tailored strategies for each context.

Short-term (0–2 years) measures emphasize foundational improvements, such as participatory land-use planning in informal areas to secure interim occupancy agreements and implement basic infrastructure. In inner-city cores— characterized by mixed commercial, residential, and institutional uses—pilot programs for car-free weekends and pop-up bike lanes seek to mitigate congestion and improve walkability. Outer suburbs, which often exhibit low-density sprawl and a reliance on private vehicles, benefit from flexible zoning and “pocket hubs” for local commerce. Medium-term (3–7 years) initiatives focus on deeper structural changes, including in-situ upgrading of informal settlements, expanded multimodal public transit in inner cities, and transit-oriented development in suburban areas. Over the long term (8+ years), these efforts evolve into formalized, climate-adaptive communities featuring robust transportation networks, inclusive zoning reforms, and sustainable building standards.

The findings underscore the importance of a phased, context-specific approach. By tailoring interventions to each typology’s strengths and constraints—and ensuring sustained collaboration among government agencies, local stakeholders, and the private sector—Metro Manila can gradually transition to a more inclusive, resilient, and efficient metropolis aligned with the 15-minute city vision

Author Biography

Anna Mae Lamentillo, London School of Economics

Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo is a legal scholar and urban planning expert whose work centers on sustainable transportation, resilient city-building, and the strategic application of artificial intelligence to urban challenges in both the Philippines and global contexts. She graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Development Communications—achieving the highest General Weighted Average among Development Journalism majors and receiving the Faculty Medal for Academic Excellence—then completed Executive Education in Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School in 2018 and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 2020. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Cities at the London School of Economics and a Master of Science in Major Programme Management at the University of Oxford.

A magazine cover featuring a blurred, motion-filled photograph of a person walking down a glass-walled corridor. Overlaid are two thin horizontal lines (one white, one rust-orange) and, in large white uppercase text, “LSE International Development Review.” In the top right corner it reads “Volume 1 • Issue 1 • June 2025.” Below the title, the word “EDITORS:” appears in smaller white text, followed by the names Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, Imane Belrhiti, Caitlin Rieuwerts, Sofia Zarama, Hanna Dooley, and Cyprine Odada. At the bottom left is the LSESU International Development Society logo, and at the bottom right the LSE Houghton Street Press logo.

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Published

2025-06-09

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): LSE International Development Review

Section

Research

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