Barangay 310, Sampaloc, Manila

SPCLZTN 1 Sec-2

Cortezano, France

De Veyra, Adrianne

Javilinar, Sofia Cassandra

Razol, Ramiel Joshua Kyle

Rubio, Levinson

Saban, Ryan Gelica

Santiago, Trishia

Far Eastern University

Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

Email Address:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]
ABSTRACT

The district of Sta. Cruz in Manila, also known as a hub for large- and small-scale
businesses inside the city. Since its founding in 1581 by the Spanish Inquisition, Santa Cruz
has become a very densely populated district that struggled with crime, overpopulation and
pollution. Today, a clear divide can be seen between the ‘business’ districts along Binondo and
Santa Cruz, specifically in Barangay 310. High-rise condominiums were present on the side of
Binondo while illegal settlements were found in Sta. Cruz’s Barangay 310 due to squatting of
family members of the prisoners of the nearby Manila City Jail. Another observation clearly
seen is the LRT2 – Recto Station, erases vital contexts, both humane and ecological; this also
concerns the general rail transit for that matter. Due to its size, most of the stations block
sunlight making the space under them dim and unpleasant, and it also connotates the sense of
unsafety especially for pedestrians. This problem also eliminates the promotion of green spaces
and ‘safe’ and pleasant walkways that would eventually lessen vehicular traffic density. In the
case for Recto Station, despite the wide pedestrian, the space became the infamous Recto where
people can buy books for a bargain price, and obtain illegal documents. As a conclusion, this
particular research is conducted due to the close proximity of the said district in the Far Eastern
University – Manila’s community it is also worth noting that Barangay 310 has a vast array of
socio-cultural factors that the researchers are interested in.

INTRODUCTION

The researchers have chosen Barangay 310 of Santa Cruz, Manila because of the issues
of poor community planning—the inhabitants within the locality grapple with the rapidly
increasing number of residents, high percentage of crime, and the pollution brought by other
occupants and by the public transportation passing by. As the students of Far Eastern
University, we are also affected by these problems since the location is near by the University,
and for that we all agreed that it needs to be addressed by the community and make an action
for this issue.
The Barangay 310 of Santa Cruz, Manila is a large community that spans from Avenida
to Recto and has long been holding a reputation to the people who have been in the vicinity.
This place is known as a place where people go to forge and manipulate documents and
identification cards which the space that is using is supposedly the pedestrian for the
community. The researchers have also observed that the massiveness of LRT2 - Recto Stations
erases vital contexts, both humane and ecological that also concerns the general rail transit for
that matter. Due to its size, most of the stations block sunlight making the space under them
dim and unpleasant, and it also connotates the sense of unsafety especially for pedestrians. This
problem also eliminates the promotion of green spaces and ‘safe’ and pleasant walkways that
would eventually lessen vehicular traffic density. Another observation is a number of present
public transportation terminals that causes traffic around the vicinity. Doroteo Jose is also
known as a Terminal Area. Around the LRT1 – Doroteo Jose area alone houses 4 Bus
Terminals. However, since Land Use have changed throughout the years, most of Manila’s
area doesn’t identify to a single Land Use; with these terminals surrounded by commercial and
institutional spaces, it only worsens the density of vehicular traffic – Proper Loading and
Unloading Area for PUVs. Next is, Demographic Demarcation / Class Divide – Obvious
difference in ‘business’ districts along Binondo and Santa Cruz. High-rise condominiums were
present on the side of Binondo while illegal settlements were found in Santa Cruz. Another
divide that was obviously seen is along Recto Avenue. Traversing from the LRT 2 Recto
Station to Mendiola, the density of the vehicular and pedestrian traffic trickled. The absence of
sidewalk for everyone is also discerned by the researchers despite having laws stating the
inclusion of PWDs, overall improvement of sidewalks. There are no proper ingress and egress
of the bus stations. And lastly is about its Politics and Society – It is common occurrence that
motorcycle drivers use sidewalks as roads to avoid traffic. Discipline in keeping the spaces
clean. Government / LGUs to be cooperative with the society, enforce laws strictly but
humanely. Allocation of spaces supporting street vendors.

The main objective of this study is to know the importance of community planning that
can affect the economic development and establishment of a character unique to the
community. Second, is to regain the identity of the community with the desires and values of
the locality. Last, is to develop an effective planning solution with the aid of comprehensive
planning strategy that can contribute to the quality of life experienced by the residing members
of the community.
In order to satisfy the objectives of the study, the researchers will interview 30 members
of the community involved in the Barangay 310 of Santa Cruz, Manila to gain qualitative
information about people’s experiences, views and feelings in the said Barangay. Another is
by observation. The researchers will simply observe the community under the said
circumstances. And lastly, is by documentary analysis. The researchers will obtain data from
existing documents about the Barangay 310 for gathering facts and ideas that have been
recorded by the community.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study in Barangay 310, Sta. Cruz, Manila can be a learning paradigm that can fall
into several perspectives like the behaviors of the residents, sellers, commuters, passers-by,
and to those who want to investigate the place as an environment of some schools, homes, etc.
that can enhance researcher’s knowledge and learnings in this place. The information resulting
from the study will help uncover critical areas and will guide researchers, students, as well as
designers, etc. in conducting design and development within the community. It aims to provide
a general understanding of social and cultural differences of the people within the area and how
it affects the community. This research may keep good control to the community and
relationships of the people that take part in the issues that affect their lives. It also determines
the feelings and reactions of the people about the situations they face in their everyday lives.
DATA

DISCUSSION

Problems and Proposed Architectural Solutions

i. Illegal Settlements
 Social – disorderliness can impact their way of living and their overall psyche
 Environmental – unsanitary and generally unsafe (built) environ
 Economical – lessen the opportunities of opening small-scale businesses to
generate income
 Cultural – creates a notion of unsafety for pedestrians passing through
The local government shall implement proper Land Use laws. They shall also
provide social housing to accommodate the low-income demographic. These
spontaneous shelters didn’t undergo proper planning; with the use of cut-rate
materials such as plywood, they impose social and environmental hazard (i.e in case
of fire, typhoon, etc.). In addition, it is known that in heart of these settlement is
prison.
Proposed Solutions:
a. Introduce low-cost housing to existing illegal settlements
b. Provide proper sidewalks and pedestrian crossings
c. Install vertical green walls and flora to reduce air pollution and serve as an
aesthetic

ii. Bus Stations and Terminals (Loading and Unloading of PUVS)

 Social –
 Economical – increased vehicular traffic due to having no proper ingress and
egress affects the economy as deliverable goods (including human workforce)
are delayed.
 Environmental – increased noise pollution; disorderliness as pedestrians are
forced to use roads as sidewalks, thus, increasing road danger
 Cultural -
Doroteo Jose is also known as a Terminal Area. Around the LRT1 – Doroteo Jose
area alone houses 4 Bus Terminals. However, since Land Use have changed
throughout the years, most of Manila’s area doesn’t identify to a single Land Use;
with these terminals surrounded by commercial and institutional spaces, it only
worsens the density of vehicular traffic – Proper Loading and Unloading Area for
PUVs

Proposed Solutions:
a. Provide transit centers and/or mobility hubs that caters to different private bus
companies and government-owned transits. This will serve as a conglomerate
of bus transit
b. Provide proper ingress and egress to relive traffic density
c. Improve existing bus stops (loading and unloading)

iii. Quezon Boulevard Bridge

 Social – the disorderliness of the clustered street vendors, unloading/loading
area contributes to heavy, congested pedestrian traffic
 Economical – missed opportunity to give street food vendors the space they
need
 Environmental – the unsanitary ways of the food vendors create an unpleasant
scent and waste
 Cultural – street food has become a stable in the streets of Manila that it became
part of its identity
The bridge above the Quezon Boulevard serves as a loading and unloading station
for public utility vehicles, due to this and its proximity to schools such as FEU, it is
heavily congested for pedestrian use despite it having a wide area. In addition to
that, the bridge became popular to street food vendors that it was dubbed as one of
the ‘Hepa-lanes’, thus added to the congestion, although in retrospect, the
government / local government unit doesn’t have exclusive commercial spaces
and/or programs enough to accommodate these vendors who are supporting
themselves and their family.
Proposed Solutions:
Split the area into three parts:
 Loading/unloading area
 Walkway
 Street Vending Zone

iv. LRT-Recto Station

 Social – The lack of natural sunlight can affect the psyche of the community,
thus affecting, even limiting, their activities
 Economical – lessen the opportunities of opening small-scale businesses to
generate income
 Environmental – eliminates the promotion of green spaces and ‘safe’ and
pleasant walkways.
 Cultural -
The massiveness that is LRT2 – Recto Station, erases vital contexts, both humane
and ecological; this also concerns the general rail transit for that matter. Due to its
size, most of the stations block sunlight making the space under them dim and
unpleasant, and it also connotates the sense of unsafety especially for pedestrians.
This problem also eliminates the promotion of green spaces and ‘safe’ and pleasant
walkways that would eventually lessen vehicular traffic density. In the case for
Recto Station, despite the wide pedestrian, the space became the infamous Recto
where people can buy books for a bargain price, and obtain illegal documents.

Proposed Solutions:

Other Problems [Community, and Politics]:

v. Class Divide
Obvious difference in ‘business’ districts along Binondo and Santa Cruz. High-
rise condominiums were present on the side of Binondo while illegal settlements
were found in Santa Cruz. Another divide that was obviously seen is along Recto
Avenue. Traversing from the LRT 2 Recto Station to Mendiola, the density of the
vehicular and pedestrian traffic trickled.

vi. Discipline
It is common occurrence that motorcycle drivers use sidewalks as roads to avoid
traffic. Discipline in keeping the spaces clean. Government / LGUs to be
cooperative with the society, enforce laws strictly but humanely. Allocation of
spaces supporting street vendors.
TARGET RESULTS

1. Remove the stigma labeled to the community. Become a community renowned for it's
cultural identity and developments
2. Community dwellers would find common sentiment and unity. This would;
3. Establish security and safety through community sensitivity.
4. Improve livelihood and economic status without compromising urban planning,
organization and ambiance of their baranggay.
5. Uplift lifestyle of community residents, become confident and proud of the locality they
reside in.
6. Become a community with humanize settlements; with proper sanitation, security and
overall ambiance.

CONCLUSION

Community planning is one of the issues that Barangay 310 of Santa Cruz Manila has
been struggling with. Due to its alarming condition, the researchers are implementing new
strategies and ideas, and possible solutions to create an impact towards being a better
community through Architecture. Santa Cruz Manila struggles hardly in terms of controlling
illegal settlements, loading and unloading of PUVs from its adjacent bus stations and terminal,
heavily congestion of pedestrians in Quezon Boulevard Bridge, and lastly the massiveness of
LRT2- Recto station.
Through architecture, the researchers proposed solutions to each problem. Introduction
of low-cost housing to existing illegal settlements, provision of proper sidewalks and pedestrian
crossings, and installation of vertical green walls and flora to reduce air pollution were
proposed solutions for the Illegal settlements. Improvement of transit centers and mobility hubs
that caters to different type of transits, provision of proper ingress and egress for the existing
bus stations and terminals. Pertaining to Quezon Boulevard bridge, the researchers heavily
suggests to provide improvement of loading and unloading area, improvement of walkways,
and provision of street vending zone. Lastly, for the massiveness of LRT-Recto Station, the
researchers came up to strategies such as provision of bright LED lights to make the place
brighter at night, painting the ceiling and columns using light colors for brighter daytime,
installation of green wall on columns, and provision of one row space for the street vendors
These sums up the strategies, ideas, and possible solutions for the problems of Barangay 301,
Santa Cruz, Manila. However, there are still other problems that has a significant effect in the
community such as Class Division, mainly business and the discipline of the people. To
conclude, the Santa Cruz, Manila, with the solutions provided by the researcher, through
architecture and people in the community serves as a significant role towards a greater and
higher quality of life within the community.

REFERENCE/S:
Santa Cruz, Manila. (2019, February 13). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz,_Manila
Manila Population 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-
cities/manila-population/
Population Counts by Legislative District (Based on the 2015 Census of Population).
Philippine Statistics Authority.
Gomez, B., & Cyberbuddy. (2018, August 17). OPINION: The doom of Manila: Absence of
foresight, abandoned priorities. Retrieved from https://news.abs-
cbn.com/blogs/opinions/08/18/18/opinion-the-doom-of-manila-absence-of-foresight-
abandoned-priorities
GMA News Online. (2015, December 04). Fire hits squatters' area near Manila City Jail.
Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/photo/163958/fire-hits-squatters-
area-near-manila-city-jail/photo/