Architect outlines smart city vision

ARCHITECT Felino A. Palafox, Jr. presented a long-term urban development framework for the Philippines that he said could support a scenario in which the country ranks among the world’s 16^th biggest economies by 2050, driven by large-scale smart city development and transport expansion.

“By 2050, more than 100 million Filipinos will be in urban areas,” Mr. Palafox said during a talk at the Smart City Convention 2026 at SMX Convention Center Aura in Taguig on Monday, stressing the need for green urbanism and the development of 100 smart and sustainable cities to manage population growth.

Mr. Palafox, principal architect of Palafox Associates, said urban planning should anticipate rapid migration into cities and prioritize infrastructure, housing and mobility systems to prevent worsening congestion and inefficiencies.

He cited the country’s historical economic position in Asia, noting earlier periods of regional leadership.

“I was born in 1950, and the Philippines was No. 1 in Asia after Japan,” he said.

Drawing from his experience as a senior architect and planner in Dubai in 1977, Mr. Palafox said similar urban transformation models could be replicated locally if long-term infrastructure planning is sustained.

“I believe it can be done,” he said.

Key elements of his framework include transport-led development, with projects such as the Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railway seen as critical in linking urban centers across Luzon.

He said improved connectivity could raise gross domestic product (GDP) by 20% to 30% through productivity gains and reduced congestion costs.

Mr. Palafox also cited Philippine Statistics Authority data showing first-quarter GDP growth of 2.8%, with services and trade as key contributors.

Gross national income rose 3% year on year, while external trade and household consumption remained major drivers of overall activity. — Juliana Chloe A. Gonzales