CANTILLO, CYROE JAMES T.

BSRT-191

Urban Threats: Urbanization spurs a unique

set of issues to both humans and animals
The promise of jobs and prosperity, among other factors, pulls people to cities. Half of the global
population already lives in cities, and by 2050 two-thirds of the world's people are expected to live in urban
areas. But in cities two of the most pressing problems facing the world today also come together: poverty and
environmental degradation.

Poor air and water quality, insufficient water availability, waste-disposal problems, and high energy
consumption are exacerbated by the increasing population density and demands of urban environments. Strong
city planning will be essential in managing these and other difficulties as the world's urban areas swell.

Threats

 Intensive urban growth can lead to greater poverty, with local governments unable to provide services
for all people.

 Concentrated energy use leads to greater air pollution with significant impact on human health.

 Automobile exhaust produces elevated lead levels in urban air.

 Large volumes of uncollected waste create multiple health hazards.

 Urban development can magnify the risk of environmental hazards such as flash flooding.

 Pollution and physical barriers to root growth promote loss of urban tree cover.

 Animal populations are inhibited by toxic substances, vehicles, and the loss of habitat and food sources.

Solutions
 Combat poverty by promoting economic development and job creation.

 Involve local community in local government.

 Reduce air pollution by upgrading energy use and alternative transport systems.

 Create private-public partnerships to provide services such as waste disposal and housing.

 Plant trees and incorporate the care of city green spaces as a key element in urban planning.
Reference:

Urban Threats: Urbanization spurs a unique set of issues to both humans and animals. (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/urban-threats/

CANTILLO, CYROE JAMES T.

BSRT-191

The Cause and Effect of Rapid Urbanization

in the Philippines
Author: Giulianno Y'ves M. Alba
The Cause
Much of the growth of the urban population in the last 10 years can be traced to the efforts in opening up
the Philippine economy, towards a closer integration of the world economy, or the phenomenon known as
globalization.(Barbara, Candelaria, Pedro, 2003)

Urban specialists generally acknowledge that there exists a positive relationship between economic
growth and the rate of urbanization, defined simply as the proportion of a country’s population living in what
are considered urban areas. More developed societies have more of their populations residing in cities compared
to less developed countries. Moreover, periods of high growth for any given country are also usually
accompanied by high rates of urbanization.(Karaos, 2007)

Effects
1. High Crime rates

Following the pattern of other countries, rapid urbanization, industrialization and migration to the cities
are major factors that contribute to higher crime rates in Philippine urban centres. Urban blight in the country is
essentially a result of the sudden unprecedented exodus of people from rural to urban areas. Progressively
increasing difficulties in rural areas, exacerbated by the natural and man-made calamities that the country
continues to experience have resulted in massive migration to the cities. In-migration, alongside natural
population increase, accounts for the burgeoning urban population and the disparate rise of primate cities like
Metro Manila.

Urbanization in the country has affected the structure and functions of the various social institutions –
the family, economy, polity, religion and education. Industrialization and modernization have led to the
diminished functions of the family. Economically, urbanization has worsened poverty. This is further aggravated
by unemployment, underemployment, a decrease in real wages due to persistent inflation and uncontrolled
migration. The labour market remains unable to fully absorb fresh graduates and migrants. The lack of job
opportunities have forced many to work abroad, leaving many children and youths under the care and guidance
of a single parent or a relative.( Leones)

2. Slum Formation
 The formation of slums need not be inevitable with rapid urbanization. Such an argument appears to be
contradicted by evidence of large slum populations in a large number of developing countries and particularly in
rapidly urbanizing regions like Asia. The evidence discussed suggests that city authorities faced with rapid
urban development lack the capacity to cope with the diverse demands for infrastructural provision to meet
economic and social needs. Not only are strategic planning and intervention major issues in agenda to manage
rapid urbanization, but city governments are not effectively linking the economic development trajectory to
implications for urban growth and, hence, housing needs. In the following discussion, a case study is presented
in support of the argument that city governments have to first recognize and then act to establish the link that is
crucial between economic development, urban growth, and housing. This is the agendum that has been largely
neglected by city and national governments that have been narrowly focused on economic growth with the
consequent proliferation of slum formation as a housing solution.(Ooi a&Pua,2007)

3. Depleting Natural Systems

Rapid conversion of forest lands and grasslands to urban use is depleting these natural systems.
Agricultural yields in lowland areas are stagnating, and population pressures are stimulating cultivation of
fragile upland areas, causing serious soil erosion. While estimates of deforestation differ, forest cover in the
Philippines has certainly been significantly reduced over the last forty years, due to increasing urbanization,
illegal logging, and forest fires. Reforestation efforts by the government have been erratic, with low tree
survival rates. Marine resources are heavily stressed by over-exploitation and pollution.

4. Deteriorating Urban Environment

Air pollution levels in Metro Manila and other cities exceed national air quality standards and impose a
serious economic burden on society. According to a perception survey (2001) more than 72 percent of Manila’s
residents said that they were alarmed by air pollution and 73 percent said that they were not aware that the
government was doing something to control it. However, the government is aware of the problem, which is
estimated to cost about US$ 1.5 billion every year, but is struggling to find a solution.

While household garbage collection is improving, 90 percent of sewage is not treated and disposed of in an
environmentally sound manner. Less than 10 percent of the country’s total population is connected to sewers
and others rarely maintain adequate on-site sanitation. Increasing water pollution is degrading the country’s
groundwater, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas, and the quality of half of the country’s rivers fall below water
quality norms. The annual economic cost of water pollution is estimated at US$1.3 billion, including health
costs, losses in fisheries production, and impact on tourism. Community and civil society-led recycling
programs have become popular, but hazardous and toxic waste disposal has emerged as a major environmental
challenge.

Expansion of urban environmental services has been and continues to be one of the main platforms of the
World Bank’s country assistance program. Project loans and technical assistance are expanding and improving
water supply, wastewater treatment, solid waste management and transport systems, with a focus on the huge,
environmentally stressed Manila metropolitan area. (Worldbank )

Reference:
Alba. (2012). Retrieved from https://mcpf.tumblr.com/post/16716089926/the-cause-and-effect-of-rapid-
urbanization-in-the-philippines