Abstract:
Historically, Manila has been an important location for economic activities. It was the center of trade and industry as exemplified in the galleon trade during the Spanish colonization. Its products were brought to other parts of the world like, primarily to its nearby countries, which are China, Vitenam, Malaysia, except for Acapulco (former capital of Mexico). Even during the period of American colonization, Manila was still considered a major area for commerce due to its product abundance and strategic location of being near bodies of water (Manila Bay and Pasig River), which served as ports for product importation and exportation. Colonizers developed the city's potential as the center for all urbanization-linked activities. It is also for these reasons why people can find various establishments such as factories, commercial buildings, service-oriented industries, as well as financial and educational institutions. During these periods, Manila was still a large metropolitan, having young cities of today like Parañaque, Pasay, Las Piñas and many others under its domain (Manasan and Mercado, 1999). Having Manila as the priority for business-related activities, people migrate from rural to urban in search for job opportunities. Although infrastructures and industries increased in number, together with various corporations, job opportunities lagged behind. Consequently, the unemployed people resorted to other means of income-generating activities, like street vending, either by putting up a small kiosk for market transactions or by merely carrying their products from one area to another, stopping by at areas where they deemed beneficial for them. Quiapo and the Pasay City part of the Roxas Boulevard would illustrate the heavy concentration of vendors, whether sidewalk or those selling by-feet (walking). These factors contributed greatly to the congestion of the city, resulting to about 43,000 thousand persons per square kilometer of the area. (Manasan and Mercado, 1999) Cities of South and South East Asia, which are normally considered as the catalyst for development, are hampered by the existence of slums. (Laquian in Jakobson & Prakash, 1971) These slums do not merely exist but constitute a large portion of the city population. (Laquian in Jakobson & Prakash, 1971) These therefore present a clear manifestation on the need to improve or develop the city.(Introduction)
