The National Capital Region

INTRODUCTION

The National Capital Region, more popularly known as Metro Manila, is the Philippines in microcosm. It is the country's premier region located in the central part of Luzon. It is the country's political, economic, social, educational, recreational and cultural hub that it exerts a dominant influence on the rest of the country's regions.

Emerging from a small tribal settlement on the banks of the Pasig river near the mouth of Manila Bay, NCR has grown into a thriving, urban sprawl consisting of 17 contiguous areas.

History tells us that Metro Manila first spread along an area south of the Pasig River and flat coastal lands between Manila Bay and the Marikina Valley. A large portion of the Manila Bay was reclaimed to the west in the 1980's to cover a wider urbanized area.

The National Capital Region is the country's capital and considered the nation's gateway to the world. It remains the country's major commercial, financial and educational center and the heart of the country's national government. Its strategic location enables the formation of the nation's economic, political and social structure that trickles down to the countryside.

Since 1975, Metro Manila has been designated the National Capital Region. At present, 14 cities and 3 municipalities comprise the National Capital Region. Its 14 cities include: Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Marikina, and Las Piñas. While the three municipalities are Pateros, San Juan and Navotas.

The metropolis lists several trading centers and shopping malls, including the Ayala Center, Greenbelt Shopping Center, Landmark (Makati), the SM malls in Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Las Pinas and Manila, Robinson's malls in Pasig, Manila, Las Pinas; Rustan's Department Stores, Festival mall, and the Tutuban Center. Recent additions are major commercial centers such as The Fort Bonifacio Business Park and the Rockwell Center in Makati.

Metro Manila is also home to the major financing institutions including the Asian Development Bank (ADB). There are 47 commercial banks, 16 thrift banks and two (2) specialized government banks to date.

There are 81 higher educational institutions including and 1,559 elementary and secondary schools in the metropolis posting a literacy rate of 92.4 percent. Noted educational institutions such as the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), University of Asia and the Pacific (UAP), University of the Philippines, the International School, Ateneo de Manila, University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University are among the many that can be found here.

GEOGRAPHY

The National Capital Region is located in the central part of Luzon and covers a total land area of 636 square kilometers or 0.2 (one fifth of 1%) of the Philippines total land area of approximately 300,000 square kilometers.

It is bounded by the Manila Bay on the west, the Laguna de Bay and Sierra Madre Mountains on the east, the valley of Northern Luzon on the north, and the Cavite highlands on the southeast.

DEMOGRAPHY & POPULATION

The latest census statistics as of 2000 showed Metro Manila had a population of 9.9 million.

Based on the 2000 figures, the population of Metro Manila by city and municipality is as follows:

Region/Province/ Highly Urbanized City	Total Population	Number of Households	Average Household Size	Population Density	Annual Growth Rate 1995-2000
PHILIPPINES	76,498,735	15,271,545	5	255	2.36
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION	9,932,560	2,132,989	4.62	15,617	1.06
City of Las Piñas	472,780	97.962	4.8	11,392	2.93
City of Manila	1,581,082	333,547	4.7	41,282	-0.97
City of Makati	444,867	98,225	4.5	14,878	-1.8
City of Mandaluyong	278,474	59,682	4.61	10,711	-0.63
City of Marikina	391,170	80,160	4.86	10,056	1.96
City Of Muntinlupa	379,310	78,016	4.75	8,122	-1.12
City of Parañaque	449,811	94,109	4.75	11,744	3.03
City of Pasig	505,058	107,835	4.66	38,851	1.5
City of Valenzuela	485,433	106,382	4.52	10,328	2.27
Caloocan City	1,177,604	249,567	4.71	21,104	3.06
Malabon	338,855	74,137	4.54	14,481	-0.54
Navotas	230,403	49,450	4.65	88,617	0.13
Pasay City	354,908	78,180	4.53	25,533	-2.97
Pateros	57,407	12,029	4.75	5,520	0.81
Quezon City	2,173,831	480,624	4.49	13,080	1.92
San Juan	117,680	24,605	4.77	11,315	-1.15
Taguig	467,375	102,723	4.5	13,869	4.45

Source: National Statistics Office

The population growth of Metro Manila compared with that of the country as a whole indicates a downward trend in its growth rate for the past three decades. Urban women have fewer children than their rural counterparts. The differences are also substantial across regions.

In the 2003 National Demographic and Health Survey, the NCR exhibits the lowest fertility rate at 2.8 children per woman. The negative relationship between fertility and education is present in the Philippines. The fertility rate of women in college or higher education (2.7 children per woman) is about half that of women with no education (5.3 children).

Education as a tool for fertility reduction can be considered in policy formulation. Education enables women to be more proactive in addressing their reproductive health and economic well-being. This is further substantiated with the fertility rates by wealth index quintile, which shows that women have a decreasing number of children as the wealth index increases.

In the same manner, acute housing shortage and congestion were cited to be a few of the reasons why many of the region's residents migrated to other provinces.

INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

° The Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Company, Globe and Bayantel provide telecommunication services in Metro Manila. Main offices of the major mobile phone companies Smart and Globe reside in Metro Manila.

Airport

° The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) serves as the main international airport located between Pasay and Paranaque City.

° The Manila Domestic Airport serves as the domestic airport located in Pasay City.

Seaport

° The Manila North and South Harbors serve as International/Local seaports

Water

° The Maynilad Water Services, Inc. serves the western part of Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Manila, western part of Makati and Pasay.

° The Manila Water Company serves the following areas in Metro Manila: eastern part of Makati, Pasig, Taguig, Pateros, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, eastern part of Quezon City, Marikina, Mandaluyong, San Juan and Valenzuela.

Electricity

° The Metro Manila Electric Company or MERALCO serves as the major provider of electricity in Metro Manila.

Industrial Estates in NCR

Name	Location	/Orientation	Size (in hectares)	Utilities/Facilities & Amenities
Amkor Technology Special Economic Zone	Brgy Cupang, Muntinlupa City	IT Industries/Technology Park	14.08	Water Supply, Road Network, Sewerage, Speed Fibre Optic, Telecommunication Backbones, High Speed International Gateway Facilities, Uninterrupted Power Supply, Computer Security Systems, IT Research and Dev't Facilities, Executive and Staff Accommodation, Medical Facilities
Araneta Cyber Center	EDSA cor. Aurora Ave., Cubao, Quezon City	IT Industries/Technology Park	35.50	Power Supply, Water supply, Sewerage and Drainage, Telecommunication, Road Network
Bonifacio Information Special Technology Zone	Fort Bonifacio, Taguig	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	25.00	Water Supply, High-Speed Fibre Optic, Telecommunication Backbones, High Speed International Gateway facilities, Uninterrupted Power Supply, Computerized Security systems, IT Research & Dev't facilities, Medical facilities
Eastwood City Cyber Park	E. Rodriguez Ave., Eastwood City Centrum, Bagumbayan, Quezon City	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	13.30	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network, Speed Fibre Optic Telecommunication Backbones, High Speed International Gateway facilities, IT Research & Dev facilities, Medical facilities, Adm office, IT Plaza, Entertainment center & facilities
E-Square Information Technology Park	Fort Bonifacio, Taguig	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	25.00	Power Supply, Water supply, Road Network, Speed Fibre Optic Telecommunication Backbones, High Speed International Gateway Facilities, Uninterrupted Power Supply, Computerized Security Systems, IT Research & Dev't facilities, Medical facilities
Fort Bonifacio Silicon Alley IT Park	Taguig	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	25.50	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage, Fibre Optic Telecommunication, IT Building, Business facilities
Macroasia Ecozone	Nichols Field, NAIA, Pasay City	Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) of Aircrafts/Specialized Industrial Zone	22.69	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage, Wastewater Treatment Plant
Manila Harbour Centre Special Economic Zone	Brgy Vitas, Tondo, Manila	Light & Medium Industries/General Industrial Zone Export Processing Zone	17.69	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage, Business and Commercial facilities, Hospital, Recreational facilities, Tourism area, Sea Port
Northgate Cyber Zone	Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City	IT & IT supporting Industries/Information Technology Park	18.71	Power Supply, Water supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage, Hotel & Service Apartments, Hospital, Recreational & Business facilities, Airport
PBCom Tower	Ayala Ave., cor Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	0.30	Water Supply, Speed Fibre Optic Telecommunication Backbones, High Speed International Gateway facilities, Uninterrupted Power Supply, IT Research & Dev't facilities
Philippine International Air Terminals Co. SEZ	Villamor Airbase, Pasay City	General Industries/General Industrial Zone	63.48	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage
RCBC Plaza Information Technology Park	Ayala Ave., cor. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City	IT based & IT related services/IT Park	1.05	Power Supply, Water Supply, Office Space, Telecommunication, Business & Commercial facilities
Robinson's Cyber Park	EDSA cor Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	6.81	Water Supply, Speed Fibre Telecommunication Backbones, High Speed International Gateway facilities, Uninterrupted Power Supply, IT Research & Dev't facilities
Summit One Office Tower	Shaw Boulevard cor. Wack-wack Road, Mandaluyong City	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	0.25	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage
UP Science and Technology Park (North)	Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	27.59	Power Supply, Water supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage
UP Science and Technology Park (South)	CP Garcia Road, Quezon City	IT & IT related Industries/Information Technology Park	26.01	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage, Wastewater treatment plant, Health facilities
Victoria Wave Special	Malaria, Tala, Kalookan City	Light & Medium Industries/General Industrial Zone Export Processing Zone	50.00	Power Supply, Water Supply, Road Network, Telecommunication, Sewerage & Drainage, Water Disposal system, Housing, Adm bldg., Airport, Sea port

Source: Board of Investments

MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

° Fort Santiago, Manila. A historic-cultural tourist destination located in Intramuros, Malate, Manila. Famous for its historical value in the fight for freedom and independence of the Filipino people.

° Makati Business Center. A modern business-tourist destination because of its modern development of structural and virtual offices. Also famous for its Shopping Centers - Glorietta and Greenbelt.

° Marikina City. A well-developed city and an emerging eco-cultural-tourist destination in Metro Manila. The Marikina Shoe Museum is also located in the city.

° Manila Cathedral, Plaza Roma, Intramuros, Manila. The seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Manila is presently the 6th cathedral to rise on the site since 1581. Previous structures were destroyed by typhoons, earthquakes, fire, and the last war. It was rebuilt on the second half of the 1950s through the efforts of Architect Fernando Ocampo and Archbishop Rufino J. Santos. The cathedral incorporated the stone carvings and rosette windows celebrating the Christianization of the Philippines. Light up with its clerestory. Mosaic artwork decorate three of its side chapels.

° San Agustin Church, Gen. Luna cor. Real Street, Intramuros, Manila. The oldest stone church in Metro Manila dates back to 1571. An intricately carved door opens to the church. Of great interest are the Baroque pulpit, molave choir stalls, and an 18th century pipe organ. Like an impregnable fortress, San Agustin has withstood the ravages of time wrought by both nature and by man.

° San Sebastian Church, Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila. This small jewel-box church is the first all-steel church in the Philippines and in Asia; and the second in the world. Design for the church was finished in 1883 and was prefabricated in Belgium. The completely knocked-down church was shipped backed to the Philippines in 6 ships. It weighed close to 50,000 tons while its stained-glass windows which are intact until now were, according to Father Ceniza, done in France.

 

NSO QUICKSTAT on NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION February 2005

PRICES	Jan 2005	Dec 2004	Jan 2004
Consumer Price Index (2000=100)	127.8	191.6	117.4r
Inflation rate	8.9	8.0	4.1
Purchasing power of the peso	0.78	0.52	0.85r
	Oct 2004	Nov 2004	Oct 2003
Wholesale Price Index for Construction Materials in      Metro Manila (1985=100)	311.9	310.9	268.4
	Aug 2004	Jul 2004	Aug 2003
General Wholesale Price Index in the Philippines      (1998=100)	146.7	145.4	133.6r
	Nov 2004	Oct 2004	Nov 2003
Producer's Price Index for Manufacturing in     Metro Manila (1994=100)	207.7	207.8r	188.7
	Dec 2004	Nov 2004	Dec 2003
Retail Price Index for Construction Materials in     Metro Manila (1978=100)	1,000.1	990.9	822.2
	Oct 2004	Nov 2004	Oct 2003
General Retail Price Index in Metro Manila (1978=100)	1,103.6	1,098.2	1,035.8
DOMESTIC TRADE (quantity in thousand tons; value in P1,000)	2nd Qtr 2003	1st Qtr 2003	2nd Qtr 2002
Coastwise trade
Quantity	675,108	399,020	396,595
Value	22,466,899	12,900,631	13,072,665
Rail trade
Quantity	217	220	251
Value	8,421	8,475	9,399
Air trade
Quantity	2,609	3,258	2,282
Value	190,780	167,578	460,160
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT (Source: LFS)	Oct 2004	Jul 2004	Oct 2003
Labor force (in thousand)	4,866	4,970	4,918
Labor force participation rate	64.0	65.4	65.5
Employment rate	81.6	81.6	82.9
Unemployment rate	18.4	18.4	17.1
CONSTRUCTION (Floor area in square meters; value in P1,000)	3rd Qtr 2004	2nd Qtr 2004	3rd Qtr 2003
Total (number)	3,046	3,691	3,413
Total floor area	1,001,810	1,1,458,428	854,029
Value	8,198,087	3,388,580	6,893,775
Residential (number)	1,445	1,829	1,610
Total floor area	372,426	584,243	459,397
Value	3,217,370	4,317,901	3,354,803
Nonresidential (number)	392	645	556
Total floor area	586,492	809,187	339,907
Value	3,830,702	7,988,632	2,455,297
Additions (number)	197	301	336
Total floor area	42,892	64,998	54,725
Value	324,544	383,275	335,210
Alterations/repairs (number)	1,012	916	911
Value	825,471	698,772	748,465
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY (Source: LE) (1998 ASE)	2000	1999	1998
Number of establishments (With 10 or more workers)
Agriculture and forestry	18	18	-
Fishery	2	20	19
Mining and quarrying	20	20	20
Manufacturing	6,827	6,326	7,129
Electricity, gas, and water	25	24	25
Construction	815	825	802
Wholesale and retail trade	7,014	6,074	7,530
Hotels and restaurants	3,252	3,072	3,426
Transportation	1,564	1,455	1,693
Financial intermediation	2,305	2,241	2,305
Real estate	2,794	2,622	2,981
Education	827	774	875
Health	365	351	378
Other community, social and personal services	694	653	758
FAMILY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE (Source: FIES) (in peso, at current prices)	2003p	2000	1997
Annual average family income	278,174	300,304	270,993
Annual average family expenditure	231,251	244,240	217,840
Annual average family saving	46,923	56,064	53,153
DEMOGRAPHY	2000	1995	1990
Total population	9,932,560	9,454,040	7,948,392
Male	49.1%	48.8%	48.6%
Female	50.9%	51.2%	51.4%
0-14 years	31.9%	32.6%	33.5%
15-64 years	65.2%	64.8%	64.1%
65 years and over	2.9%	2.5%	2.4%
Density (persons per square kilometer)	15,617.0	14,928.2	12,550.8
Growth rate	1.06	3.30	2.98
Average household size	4.6	4.7	5.0
	2005	2004	2003
Population projection (medium assumption) 1/	11,240,743	11,070,287	10,899,361
VITAL STATISTICS	2000	1999	1998
Registered births 2/	303,631	310,463	312,133
Male	159,016	163,087	166,624
Female	144,615	147,376	145,509
Registered marriages 2/	105,548	100,288	100,805
Registered deaths 2/	63,413	58,770	60,270
Male	37,508	34,943	35,682
Female	25,905	23,827	24,588
	2005	2004	2003
Crude birth rate (per 1,000 population) 1/	17.9	18.5	19.1
Crude death rate(per 1,000 population) 1/	4.6	4.6	4.6
Crude rate of natural increase (per 1,000 population) 1/	13.4	14.0	14.6
Total fertility rate (number of children per woman)  1/	1.9	1.9	2.0
Life expectancy at birth (in years)  1/
Male	69.2	68.9	68.6
Female	73.7	73.4	73.2
FAMILY PLANNING (Source: FPS)	2002	2001	2000
Modern method  3/	34.5	38.2	33.6
Traditional method 3/	14.1	13.0	12.1
EDUCATION (Source: FLEMMS)	1994	1989
Simple literacy rate (10 years old and over) 4/	98.8	98.1
Functional literacy rate (10 to 64 years old) 5/	92.4	90.6