PALAFOX Associates aims to push the Philippines to be one of the leading economies in the world by the year 2050 through its recently launched architecture, design, and sustainable-driven advocacy campaign.
The launching event on July 3 was led by Palafox founder, principal architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr., who believed that the Philippines shows significant potential for development.
“A hundred cities can be done. Our leaders should be like the leaders of Dubai and Singapore. Leaders with vision and strong political will. They must have a good appreciation of urban planning, design, like architectural engineering, and excellent management,” Palafox said.
The campaign is in line with Palafox’s analysis that the country needs “at least 100 new cities all over the Philippines by 2050. Failure to do so could result in existing cities becoming as problematic, if not worse, than Metro Manila, to accommodate and sustain its rapidly growing population.”
Palafox also shared how the Philippines competitively ranked in various industries in the world and stressed how the culture of long-term planning is crucial for the country.
The Philippines 2050 also highlighted professional excellence in architecture, urban planning and design, environmental management, interior and urban design, and responsible property development to promote inclusivity and create healthier communities, towns, cities, provinces, and regions in the Philippines.
“We need 30 kinds of urban transport and 20 kinds of rising progressive infrastructure. These are the international seaports and airports, as the business cards of the city and in the country,” Palafox said.
He also advocates vertical cities to protect and prevent urban sprawl from crossing the forest and the farms and let employees be closer to their places and work.
“Those with fewer employers should have more employees, one-third of the road transport corridor should be for trees and landscaping. It takes at least 10 trees to recover the oxygen out of the carbon monoxide per car and one-third must be for people, this includes the bicycles and one-third for other vehicles and cars,” he added.
For nearly 35 years, the multidisciplinary consultancy has partnered with over 200 towns, cities, and provinces in crafting their comprehensive development plans.
The initiative stemmed from HSBC and Goldman Sachs’ Projection that the Philippines will be the Top 16th economy by 2050.
“The Philippines shows significant potential for development. The country’s abundant natural and human capital resources – from leading in marine biodiversity and voice call centers to holding a demographic sweet spot with an average age of 26 -position it to become a first-world country by 2050,” he said.
Palafox has completed work in more than 40 countries, planned more than 54 billion square meters of land area, designed more than 20 million square meters of floor area, and has been a partner of nation-building by designing and planning buildings, communities, towns, cities, and regions since 1989.
