Migration and Urbanization: The Case of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, 1960 to Present

Abstract

Known as the “Balcony of the Metropolis”, San Jose del Monte (SJDM) serves as one of the gateways from Metro Manila to the northern Philippines. As the relocation center of the country, SJDM proves to be an interesting area of study on how migration and urbanization shape a city's history. With the scarcity of literature on SJDM and the significant gap in studies covering urban-to-rural phenomena, this research aims to explore the relationship between migration and urbanization in SJDM and analyze their impacts on the political, economic, and sociocultural transformations of the city. Employing archival research methods, this paper traces the multiple waves of migration and rapid urbanization in SJDM from 1960 to present, and scrutinizes how these two processes have influenced the development of the city. Examining short-, medium-, and long-term trends reveals that SJDM has experienced a unique pattern of development compared to other urbanizing cities in the country. Moreover, the uncontrolled urbanization in SJDM has led to significant social issues, including challenges in social cohesion, delivery of essential services, land use conflicts, unemployment, and environmental degradation. Noting the inevitable and continuous rapid urbanization in SJDM and other areas in Bulacan, this research assumes critical importance in documenting the history of SJDM and the consequent changes that have been occurring within, informing context-specific, sustainable, and inclusive, development strategies tailored to the unique context of the city.