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Metro Manila

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Metropolitan Manila (Filipino: Kalakhang Maynila , Kamaynilaan) or the National Capital Region (NCR) (Filipino: Pambansang Punong Rehiyon) is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines. It is composed of 16 cities—namely Manila itself, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, Parañaque, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela—and the municipality of Pateros.

The region is the political, economic, social, cultural, and educational center of the Philippines. As proclaimed by Presidential Decree No. 940, Metro Manila as a whole is the Philippines' seat of government but the City of Manila is the capital.

Metro Manila is the most populous of the twelve defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines. As of the 2007 census, it had a population of 11,553,427, comprising 13% of the national population. Including suburbs in the adjacent provinces (Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal) of Greater Manila, the population is around 20 million.

Metro Manila's gross regional product is estimated as of July 2009 to be ₱468.4 billion (US$149 billion) and accounts for 33% of the nation's GDP. In 2008, it ranked as the 40th wealthiest urban agglomeration in the world according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Etymology

For information on the etymology of "Manila" see History of Manila

The term Metro Manila increasingly came into use in the 1980s when cities now part of the metropolitan area were still considered parts of neighboring provinces. Many outside of the metro area, particularly from other regions of the Philippines and also many from central Manila, often referred to Metro Manila as Manila. However, many from other parts of the metro area object to being called "Manila" when they are in fact from other cities in Metro Manila, cities that are geographically closer to the neighboring provinces than to Manila proper. This dual definition of "Manila", to mean the city proper and the entire metropolitan area, can lead to confusion.

Metro Manila is often abbreviated as M.M..

History

Cities of Metro Manila showing the years that they were made cities. Pateros is the only remaining non-city; it's a municipality.

Spanish Manila was founded in June 24, 1571 by three conquistadors: Martín de Goiti, Juan de Salcedo and Miguel López de Legazpi. In 1867, the Spanish Government of the Philippines established the municipalities and territories south of the District of Morong in Nueva Ecija, north of the Province of Tondo and Imperial Manila, and isolated these from their mother province of Nueva Ecija. The government created the Province of Manila composed of the Province of Tondo to the south and the isolated territories of Nueva Ecija to the north. The parts of Tondo were Navotas, Malabon, and Caloocan; the parts of Nueva Ecija were Mariquina, Balintawak, Caloocan, Pasig, San Felipe Neri (presently called Mandaluyong), Las Piñas, what had been known as Parañaque, and Muntinlupa. The capital of the Province was Intramuros, then itself called and considered to be Manila, a walled city located along the banks of the Pasig River and on the shore of Manila Bay.

During the Philippine Revolution the Province of Manila was the 8th and last Province to revolt against Spain paving the establishment of the Federated Philippine Republics (composed of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Manila). The Province of Manila remained in existence until 1901, when its territory was subdivided by the Americans.

In 1901, the Philippine Assembly created the City of Manila composed of the municipalities of Ermita, Intramuros or the Imperial City of Manila, Tondo, Santa Cruz, Sta. Ana, San Nicolas, San Miguel, Paco, Port Area, Pandacan, Sampaloc, Quiapo, Binondo, Malate, Sta. Mesa and Singalong. The municipalities of Caloocan, Marikina, Pasig, Parañaque, Malabon, Navotas, San Juan, Makati, Mandaluyong (San Felipe Neri), Las Piñas, Muntinglupa and Taguig-Pateros were incorporated into a new province named Rizal, the capital of which was Pasig.

In 1941 with the onset of World War II, President Manuel L. Quezon created the City of Greater Manila as an emergency measure, merging the city and municipal governments of Manila, Quezon City, San Juan del Monte, Caloocan, etc. and appointed Jorge Vargas as mayor. Existing mayors of the included cities and municipalities served as vice-mayors for their areas. This was in order to ensure Vargas, who was Quezon's principal lieutenant for administrative matters, would have a position of authority that would be recognized under international military law. There were doubts if the Japanese Imperial Army poised to occupy Manila would recognize the authorities of members of the Quezon cabinet. The City of Greater Manila was abolished by the Japanese with the formation of the Philippine Executive Commission to govern the occupied regions of the country. As an administrative concept, however, the City of Greater Manila served as a model for Metro Manila and the position of Metro Manila governor established during the Marcos administration.

In 1975, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree 824, creating the Metropolitan Manila Area. The Metropolitan Manila Commission was created to administer the emerging metropolis. Marcos appointed his wife Imelda Marcos as governor of Metro Manila.

In 1986, after a major government reorganization, President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 392 and changed the structure of the Metropolitan Manila Commission and renamed it to the Metropolitan Manila Authority. Metro Manila Mayors chose from themselves as chair of the agency.

In 1995, through Republic Act 7924, Metro Manila Authority was reorganized and became the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. The chair of the agency is appointed by the President and should not have a concurrent elected position such as mayor.

Geography

Metro Manila is situated on an isthmus bounded by Manila Bay to the west and Laguna de Bay to the south-east and divided by the Pasig River which links the two bodies of water. The city lies on a wide flood plain that is one of the biggest in the country. The area is bounded by Bulacan to the north, Rizal to the east, Laguna to the south and Cavite to the southwest.

Metro Manila is located at 14°40' N 121°3 E. The swampy isthmus on which the western metropolitan area partly lies has an average elevation of 10 meters. The eastern area lies on a ridge gradually rising towards the foothills of the Sierra Madre and overlooks the Marikina River valley, which is part swamp.

Metro Manila's primary waterway is the Pasig River, which bisects the isthmus. It originates in Laguna de Bay, marking the borders between Makati City and Mandaluyong City, as well as between Pasig City and Taguig, then passing through Manila before draining into Manila Bay. The river is severely polluted from municipal waste.

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification system, Metro Manila is split between a tropical wet and dry climate and a tropical monsoon climate. Manila, which features less rainfall than Quezon City, has a tropical wet and dry climate while Quezon City features a tropical monsoon climate. Together with the rest of the Philippines, Metro Manila lies entirely within the tropics. Its proximity to the equator means that the temperature range is very small, rarely going lower than 20°C and going higher than 38°C. However, humidity levels are usually very high which makes it feel much warmer. It has a distinct, albeit relatively short dry season from January through April, and a relatively lengthy wet season from May through December.

Government

The City of Manila proper is the national capital of the Philippines. The wider Metro Manila area is the seat of government. The executive and judicial branches of government are based in Manila as represented by Malacañan Palace, the official office and residence of the President of the Philippines, and the buildings of the Supreme Court of the Philippines respectively. However, the upper house of the legislature, the Senate of the Philippines, is based in Pasay City, and the lower house, the House of Representatives of the Philippines, in Quezon City.

Metro Manila is the smallest of the country's administrative regions, but the most populous and the most densely populated, having a population of 11,553,427 (2007 census) in an area of approximately 638.55 square kilometers (246.5 sq mi). It is also the only region without any provinces, instead being subdivided into 17 local government units: 16 cities and one municipality.

Administrative districts of Metro Manila:      1st district      2nd district      3rd district      4th district

 ¹ Includes barangays disputed between Makati and Taguig cities.

In terms of local governance, Metro Manila cannot properly be considered a single political entity. The cities and municipality comprising it are considered the highest level of local government with each having their own set of separately elected officials. While the cities and municipality are independent from each other politically, several basic public services, such as traffic and flood control, are handled collectively by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). The MMDA is headquartered in Makati and is headed by the MMDA Chairman, an appointee of the President of the Philippines, who holds cabinet rank. The mayors of the cities and municipality belong to the Metro Manila Mayor's League that serves as the board of the MMDA.

For mainly fiscal and statistical purposes Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) has also been divided into four districts grouped according to geographical basis in reference to the Pasig River. These districts were created in 1976 but have no local government and no congressional representation.

The cities and municipalities within the NCR are grouped into the four districts as follows:

Representation to the two houses of the Congress of the Philippines is as follows:

• For the Senate, polling is done at-large, nationwide.
• For the House of Representatives, each city except for Malabon and Navotas has at least one representative; Malabon and Navotas has one representative (until 2010, when they will have separate seats), while Pateros' representation is included with the first Sangguniang Panlungsod district of Taguig.

Metro Manila is also a judicial region; as such, all regional trial court judges can be stationed anywhere within the region.

Economy

Skyline of Ortigas Center in the foreground with Makati in the background on the left

Metro Manila is the financial, commercial and industrial center of the Philippines. It accounts for 33% of the Philippines' GDP, around US$124 billion (PPP) in 2007. It has a third of the country's bank offices but over two thirds of its deposits.

Business districts

Makati City is the main central business district of Metro Manila

Makati is the largest financial and economic hub of the metropolitan area and the country. Regarded as the metropolis' central business district (CBD), it is the base of many of the Philippines' largest corporations including the Ayala Group of Companies, as well as the nation's major banks. The Makati area is built around the former Nielsen Air Base, an American installation during World War II, and its runways now form the district's main roads, which cross each other at the Makati Triangle, home of the nation's stock exchange. Different well-known skyscrapers in Metro Manila are here like PBCom Tower and G.T. International Tower. Foreign corporations also have their main Philippine hubs here.

Ortigas Center is the second most important business district in Metro Manila. Situated in Mandaluyong and Pasig, it is home to the headquarters of several major Philippine companies such as San Miguel Corporation and Meralco, and hosts many shopping malls and hotels. The Asian Development Bank, also has its headquarters here.

New developments seeking to become vibrant business centers of their own are Bonifacio Global City in Taguig; Eastwood City in Quezon City; the Manila Bay City Reclamation Area in the cities of Pasay, Parañaque and Las Piñas; and Alabang Estates, Madrigal Business Park, and Filinvest Corporate City in Muntinlupa. Triangle Park in Quezon City is the latest addition to the list.

The traditional business center of Chinese-Filipino businessmen and the country's CBD prior to the development of the Makati CBD was the Binondo District in the City of Manila.

Shopping centers

Twenty years ago there were not that many shopping malls in Metro Manila, but ever since Henry Sy a Chinese-Filipino businessman started putting up his megamalls through his SM Group of Companies, Manilans have taken eagerly to "malling" and now treat many of the malls as landmarks unto themselves. Three of these monuments to shopping are among the largest in the world. The largest mall in the country is currently the renovated SM City North EDSA. It is expected to become the nexus for three metropolitan rail lines once the terminal station next to it is fully completed. Previously the SM Mall of Asia was the country's largest mall, and before it the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong on the border with Pasig in Ortigas Center held the distinction from 1991 to 2006. Various other SM malls dot the metropolis.

Panoramic view of SM Mall of Asia from the east

Ortigas Center is the site of many other shopping centers including Robinsons Galleria, Shangri-La Plaza, and The Podium. Recently opened in Pasig is a new development called Frontera Verde, which currently hosts Tiendesitas, a tiangge-style shopping center; SM Supercenter Pasig; and SilverCity AutoMall, the first mall in the Philippines that is dedicated to the automotive market.

In the Central Business District of Makati, Ayala Center comprises other commercial developments, including Glorietta and the upscale Greenbelt shopping arcades. Also in Makati in Guadalupe is the Rockwell Center. Bonifacio High Street and Serendra are in Bonifacio Global City. In the City of Manila, the largest malls include SM City Manila and Robinsons Place Manila.

SM City North EDSA, the 2nd largest mall in the world.

Cubao is Quezon City's central commercial area and has five malls including the Gateway Mall. There is also Eastwood City, located along Libis; SM City Fairview, in Novaliches, and TriNoma, Ayala Land's newest mall, in front of SM City North EDSA. Muntinlupa City hosts malls like Festival Supermall, Alabang Town Center, and Metropolis Star Mall, all in Alabang.

Before the advent of the air-conditioned shopping centers, Metro Manila had the palengke, the Filipino-style open-air wet market and there are still many of them. One of these is the Central Market, in Sta. Cruz district of Manila. Another known for its bargains is the market in Divisoria, in Manila. Cloverleaf Market in Balintawak, Quezon City supplies much of Metro Manila's fruit and vegetable products. Navotas Port Market supplies most of Metro Manila's fish products. Other smaller markets include the Cubao Farmers Market, EDSA Central, Nepa-Q Mart, Novaliches Talipapa, and those found in Muñoz, Balingasa, Galas, Santa Mesa, Baclaran, Pasay Libertad, and Pasay Cartimar, the latter also being one of the finest pet markets in the Philippines.

Midway between a mall and a market are the tiangges, or airconditioned markets selling goods such as clothes, shoes, accessories, computer parts, mobile phones, CDs, VCDs, MP3s, iPods, and DVDs. Examples are Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan and St. Francis Square in Mandaluyong.

Wealth extremes

Aerial View of Ayala Avenue

Metro Manila is a place of economic extremes. Many high-income citizens are concentrated in gated communities in places such as Forbes Park and Dasmariñas Village in Makati, Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City (all three initially developed in part by the influential Zobel de Ayala family), BF Homes in Parañaque City, Valle Verde in Kapitolyo, Pasig City, La Vista in Quezon City, Greenhills in San Juan or in high-rise developments in or around central business districts, such as Rockwell Center in Makati and Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, or along Roxas Boulevard overlooking Manila Bay.

In sharp contrast to these residences are the slums and illegal settlements scattered across the metropolitan area, often found on vacant government land or in districts such as Tondo. Illegal settlements have been concentrated on land adjacent to the tracks of PNR lines; but with efforts to rehabilitate the railway system, steps have been taken to clear these areas and relocate the squatters to other areas.

Landmarks and recreational areas

Rizal Park

Located west of Metro Manila, Rizal Park, also known as the Luneta, is an iconic public promenade. Rizal Park features the Rizal Monument a statue of the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal, a gigantic relief map of the Philippines, scenic Chinese gardens, and several government offices, such as the Department of Tourism. On the seaside front of Rizal Park are numerous seafood restaurants specializing in Filipino and Asian cuisine. The National Museum of the Filipino People is also found here. It is a complex of two Greco-Roman buildings which house various relics and natural treasures in its galleries. The museum also boasts a large collection of artwork and masterpieces crafted by Filipinos. Part of the museum complex is the first planetarium in Southeast Asia. Located nearby is the Quirino Grandstand, which apart from political campaign gatherings is also a popular staging ground for rallies of various charismatic religious groups.

The main entrance of Fort Santiago towering 40 feet (12 m) high

Near Rizal Park is the 400-year-old Imperial City known as Intramuros. Intramuros, a walled domain which was once the seat of government during the Spanish Colonial Era and American Period. Among the attractions are Fort Santiago, a timeworn Spanish military fortress which was also the cell for the national hero, Jose Rizal in 1896; Casa Manila, a Spanish colonial villa which is converted into a house gallery; Manila Cathedral, the official seat of the Archbishop of Manila; San Agustin Church, the oldest existing church in the Philippines has survived both wars and earthquakes since it was erected in 1587; Intramuros Golf Club, a golf course outside the walls; and the Clam Shell Tent, an exhibition center of the Department of Tourism. Horse-carriages and tourist buses are also some of the attractions. The rest also includes a walk above the walls surrounding Intramuros, government offices, universities and colonial houses.

Fort Bonifacio is the location of military detachments, cemeteries, international schools, corporate headquarters and world-class dining and shopping facilities. Other local recreation areas include the Nayong Pilipino (Philippine Village) in Parañaque City, Quezon Memorial Circle and Ninoy Aquino Wildlife Center, both in Diliman district of Quezon City, the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and Bay City, both in Pasay City. Meanwhile, the Paco Park, Arroceros Botanical Garden, Manila Zoo, Plaza Rajah Sulayman, Plaza Miranda, new Rizal Avenue Bargain Walkway, the all-steel Gothic San Sebastian Church, the bars and night clubs of Ermita and Malate districts and the Roxas Boulevard Bay Walk which offers a fine view of the Manila Bay sunset and hip dining are in Manila.

Transportation

Roadways

EDSA

The metropolis has an extensive system of highways connecting the various cities and municipalities estimated to measure 5092 kilometers long. Of this total 1087 kilometers are national roads; 2366 kilometers are city, municipal, or barangay roads; 1639 kilometers are subdivision roads; and 37 kilometers are privately run toll expressways.

The major roads include ten radial roads, which branch out from central Manila and five circumferential roads which form a series of concentric semi-circular arcs around downtown Manila. Most of these roads are very important transportation arteries. One is the C-4 (Circumferential Road 4), also called Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or more popularly as EDSA. It is the major thoroughfare in Metro Manila connecting five cities in Metro Manila, namely Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, and Caloocan. The MRT-3 line of Manila's metro network runs down the middle of EDSA between the road's opposite running lanes. A major alternative to EDSA is Circumferential Road 5 (C-5). Some other important roads are R-1 (Radial Road 1) better known as Roxas Boulevard and the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Coastal Road) connecting to Cavite province in the southwest; R-3 or the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) connecting to Laguna province in the southeast; R-6 (Aurora Boulevard and Marcos Highway) connecting to Rizal province in the east; and R-8 or the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) connecting to Bulacan province in the north. One of its newest roads, the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, running on the reclamation area parallel to R-1, is one of the destinations of Manila's elite.

Circumferential Road 5

Metro Manila is notorious for its traffic jams with trips averaging at speeds as low as 6–8 kilometers per hour. A trip that should take 20 minutes will last an hour or more especially during rush hour. Consequently, the Metro Manila Development Authority (see section below) has constructed many projects to decongest traffic.

Such projects of the MMDA for motorists are the construction of flyovers (elevated roads), interchanges, loading bays for Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs), emergency bays, and U-turn slots over various intersections and thoroughfares, and the completion of the comprehensive railway system (see below). It has also been engaged in road widening with the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways. MMDA has also utilized projects for the pedestrians such as the installation of footbridges, waiting sheds, and men's urinals to various roads in the metropolis. The agency has also implemented various schemes for motorists such as the Uniform Vehicular Volume Reduction Scheme (UVVRS), more popularly known as "color coding", where vehicles whose plate numbers end in different digits are banned from traveling on different days, the Yellow Lane scheme, where yellow-plated PUBs (Public Utility Buses) will only use the two outermost lanes in EDSA, and the Organized Bus Route (OBR) for Metro Manila.

Railways

A Purple Line train

As of 2005, there are two different rapid transit systems in Metro Manila: the Manila Light Rail Transit System, or the LRT, and the Manila Metro Rail Transit System, or the MRT. The Yellow Line (LRT-1) and the Purple Line (LRT-2) form the LRT network, while the Blue Line (MRT-3) forms the MRT network, with 29 stations on the LRT and 13 stations on the MRT . Four more lines are proposed and would connect Metro Manila to the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal upon their completion.

Philippine National Railways also operates two main-line railway lines within Metro Manila, all part of the once-flourishing Luzon railway system. The northern line, known as Northrail and connecting Manila to Caloocan City, is currently closed. Line extensions are proposed to Valenzuela City and further on to Bulacan and Pampanga. The trans-Metro Manila portion of the still-open southern line, known as Southrail, commences at Tutuban station in Tondo, Manila, passes through the cities of Manila, Makati, Taguig, Parañaque and Las Piñas, and ends in Barangay Buli, Muntinlupa City, before entering the province of Laguna.

Airports

Terminal 3 from the air

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which straddles the boundary between Parañaque City and Pasay City, is the country's busiest airport. It consists of a domestic terminal and three international terminals; it has two main runways. It is the hub of Philippine Airlines which has its main hangar located near the Villamor Air Base. An alternative international gateway for the metropolitan area and the country is currently being built at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga. It is planned on becoming one of the world's biggest in terms of terminal size and land area. A fast train will be built to connect the new airport to Metro Manila.

Water Transportation

Manila Seaport Terminal is the shipping gateway to the Philippines. The Manila Seaport Terminal is in Port Area, Manila (near Luneta and beside Manila Bay). And the Pasig River Ferry Service the water-transport cruises the Pasig River from Intramuros, Manila to Barangay Kalawaan Sur in Pasig City.

Demographics

Metro Manila has a registered population of 11,553,427 people. However, the greater urban area of Manila which includes Metro Manila and the suburbs in the surrounding provinces puts the population at around 20,075,000 people (2009 estimate).

According to the census of 2000, there were 9,932,560 people and 2,132,989 households residing in Metro Manila. With a population density of 15,617/km², it is by far the most densely populated region of the Philippines. For the period 1995 to 2000, the annual population growth rate was 1.06 percent, lower than that of the 1990 to 1995 period (3.30 percent).

The indigenous people of the area now known as Metro Manila were the Tagalog. Other native ethnic groups of the Philippines also inhabit the metropolis as a result of migration. The include the Visayans, Ilocanos, Bicolanos, Kapampangan, Pangasinan, and Moro groups (mostly Maranao and Maguindanao). Tribal groups such as the Igorot and the Bajau have also settled. There are also numerous peoples of Chinese and Japanese, Indian descent. Resident Spaniards, Americans, and Koreans are also present in large numbers. Metro Manila is classified as a social urban conglomerate, meaning, it is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world.

The most common language spoken in households is Tagalog (94.34%). English is widely used and understood, and is the main language of the upper classes and in business. Chinese is taught in certain Chinese schools. Other languages of the Philippines are also spoken, mostly between family members, relatives, or neighbors belonging to the same ethnic group. Among these languages, the most spoken include Visayan languages, Ilokano, Bikol languages, and Kapampangan.

The large majority of the population of Metro Manila is Roman Catholic (90%). Other religions represented are Protestant (3%), Islam (5%), and Hinduism and Buddhism (2%).

Education

PSHS Main Campus

As of 2008 there are 511 elementary schools and 220 secondary schools in the National Capital Region. There are around 81 higher educational institutions. Literacy is around 92.4%. As the educational center of the country, many students from the provinces head to Metro Manila to study. Areas of high number of educational institutions include the so-called "University Belt" and Taft Avenue in Manila, Katipunan Avenue and Fairview in Quezon City and Sta. Mesa straddling the Manila, Quezon City and Mandaluyong City borders. Metro Manila is also home to many private schools run by religious orders. These include the Ateneo de Manila University by the Jesuits, University of Santo Tomas by the Dominicans, De La Salle University by the Lasallian Brothers, Adamson University by the Vincentians and San Beda College by the Benedictine order among others. There are also many international schools located around the Metro, most are located in Taguig like the British School Manila, Manila Japanese School, Chinese International School, Korean International School and the International School Manila. Government-funded/run schools like the Diliman and Manila campuses of the University of the Philippines, the Diliman campus of the Philippine Science High School and Manila Science High School are located here as well.

Health

Manila is home to the World Health Organization's Regional Office for the Western Pacific, the main office of the Department of Health, and several hospitals and medical centers. Major hospitals such as the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa City and St. Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City have world-class facilities. Some of these have geared themselves toward medical tourism.

Police and security

Headquarters of the PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is responsible for law enforcement in the country. Police structure in the Philippines is centralized and its command center is in Camp Rafael Crame in Santolan, Quezon City. Metro Manila is divided into 5 police districts under National Capital Region Police Office namely Central (Quezon City), Western (City of Manila), Eastern (Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina, San Juan), Northern (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) and Southern (Makati, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Taguig and Pateros). The NCRPO Headquarters is located in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines' command headquarters is in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Murphy, Quezon City. The National Capital Region Command is in Metro Manila and was created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to defend the metropolis from insurgents and terrorist groups. Philippine Army headquarters is in Fort Andres Bonifacio in Taguig. Philippine Air Force headquarters is in Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay. Philippine Navy headquarters is along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

Public utilities

Electricity

Metro Manila's electricity is generated by the state-owned National Power Corporation (Napocor) and other independent power producers across the island of Luzon. It is transmitted by the privately-owned National Grid Corporation of The Philippines (NGCP) through high tension wires. It is distributed by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the only company allowed to distribute electricity to the metropolis.

Water

Metro Manila and its surrounding areas are divided into two water concessionaires: Maynilad Water (red) and Manila Water (blue).

Metro Manila's tap water is sourced from the Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan. It is stored in the Novaliches Reservoir and filtered in the La Mesa Dam, both in northeast Quezon City. Metro Manila's water distribution and sewerage system used to be managed by the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System (MWSS), a state-owned company. In 1997, MWSS awarded concessionaire licenses to two private corporations. Metro Manila was sliced into two distribution areas.

• Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI). It is currently majority-owned by the MWSS, which took it over from Benpres Holdings Company, which also controls MERALCO. It operates in western Quezon City, southern Caloocan City, Manila (excludes Downtown), Valenzuela City, Malabon City, Navotas, Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City, and western Muntinlupa City. MWSS is currently bidding out its shares in MWSI and expects to conclude the bidding before the end of the year.
• Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWC). It is majority-owned by the Ayala Corporation, which also controls Globe Telecom. MWC operates the East Concession Zone, which comprises Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Marikina City, Pasig City, Pateros, San Juan City, Taguig City, eastern Quezon City, and the southeast portions of Manila.

Communications

Since 1925, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) was the Philippines' only phone carrier. With the passage of the National Telecommunications Act of 1995, the Philippine National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) granted licenses to new and independent companies to install new phones across the Philippines. The NTC granted 3 new licenses for Metro Manila.

• Bayantel/ Benpres - Northern Metro Manila (Quezon City, northern Caloocan City, Malabon City, Navotas, Valenzuela City, Marikina City, northeastern Manila, and the Ortigas Center in Pasig City)
• Globelines/ Innove - Southern Metro Manila (Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Muntinlupa City, Pasay City, Las Piñas City, Parañaque City, Taguig City, Pateros, San Juan, and Pasig City excluding the Ortigas Center)
• Eastern Telecoms - Western Metro Manila (Southern Caloocan City and Manila, excluding the northeast part)

Garbage

Metro Manila produces 4,000 tons of garbage each day. Paper wastes account for nearly 14% of the daily total. Efforts to reduce pollution is one of the metropolis' major public management concerns especially with the closure of some garbage dump sites in Greater Manila.

See also

Philippines portal

• List of metropolitan areas in Asia by population
• Mega Manila

References

Articles Related to Manila v • d • e City of Manila Culture · Crime · Demographics · Economy · Geography · History · Mayor · Notable Residents · Transportation Legistlative districts of Manila 1st District · 2nd District · 3rd District · 4th District · 5th District · 6th District Districts of Manila Binondo · Ermita · Intramuros · Malate · Paco · Pandacan · Port of Manila · Quiapo · Sampaloc · San Andres · San Miguel · San Nicolas · Santa Ana · Santa Cruz · Santa Mesa · Tondo Mayors of Manila Justo Lukban · Ramon Fernandez · Miguel Romualdez · Tomas Earnshaw · Valeriano Fugoso · Jorge B. Vargas · León G. Guinto, Sr. · Juan L. Nolasco · Manuel de la Fuente · Arsenio Lacson · Antonio Villegas · Ramon Bagatsing · Mel Lopez · Alfredo Lim · Lito Atienza · Alfredo Lim Metropolitan Manila · Republic of the Philippines v • d • e Valenzuela City Valenzuela, May Disiplina! 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Cruz, Marinduque Metropolitan Manila, Republic of the Philippines v • d • e Metropolitan Manila     Caloocan City Las Piñas City Makati City Malabon City Mandaluyong City Manila Marikina City Muntinlupa City Navotas City Parañaque City Pasay City Pasig City Pateros Quezon City San Juan City Taguig City Valenzuela City Metropolitan Manila Development Authority v • d • e Metropolitan areas of the Philippines Angeles • Bacolod • Baguio • Batangas City • Cagayan de Oro • Cebu • Dagupan • Davao • Iloilo-Guimaras • Manila • Naga • Olongapo v • d • e Regions of the Philippines Luzon I – Ilocos Region • II – Cagayan Valley • III – Central Luzon • IV-A – CALABARZON • IV-B – MIMAROPA • V – Bicol Region • CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region • NCR – National Capital Region Visayas VI – Western Visayas • VII – Central Visayas • VIII – Eastern Visayas Mindanao IX – Zamboanga Peninsula • X – Northern Mindanao • XI – Davao Region • XII – SOCCSKSARGEN • XIII – Caraga • ARMM – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao v • d • e Political Divisions of the Philippines Capital Manila • National Capital Region Autonomous region Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Provinces Abra • Agusan del Norte • Agusan del Sur • Aklan • Albay • Antique • Apayao • Aurora • Basilan • Bataan • Batanes • Batangas • Benguet • Biliran • Bohol • Bukidnon • Bulacan • Cagayan • Camarines Norte • Camarines Sur • Camiguin • Capiz • Catanduanes • Cavite • Cebu • Compostela Valley • Cotabato • Davao del Norte • Davao del Sur • Davao Oriental • Eastern Samar • Guimaras • Ifugao • Ilocos Norte • Ilocos Sur • Iloilo • Isabela • Kalinga • La Union • Laguna • Lanao del Norte • Lanao del Sur • Leyte • Maguindanao • Marinduque • Masbate • Misamis Occidental • Misamis Oriental • Mountain Province • Negros Occidental • Negros Oriental • Northern Samar • Nueva Ecija • Nueva Vizcaya • Occidental Mindoro • Oriental Mindoro • Palawan • Pampanga • Pangasinan • Quezon • Quirino • Rizal • Romblon • Samar • Sarangani • Siquijor • Sorsogon • South Cotabato • Southern Leyte • Sultan Kudarat • Sulu • Surigao del Norte • Surigao del Sur • Tarlac • Tawi-Tawi • Zambales • Zamboanga del Norte • Zamboanga del Sur • Zamboanga Sibugay Other subdivisions Island groups • Regions • Cities • Municipalities • Barangays • Legislative districts Territorial disputes Benham Plateau • North Borneo (Sabah) • Scarborough Shoal • Spratly Islands v • d • e Sports teams and leagues based in and around Metro Manila Leagues Basketball: Philippine Basketball Association • Philippine Basketball League • Women's Philippine Basketball League Volleyball: Shakey's V-League Baseball: Baseball Philippines Football: Terry Razon Copa Filipina Collegiate sports: CUSA • NAASCU • NCAA • NCRAA • UCAA • UAAP • WNCAA • MNCAA Basketball PBA: All teams - PBL: All teams - WPBL: All teams - LP: Taguig Batang Global Baseball Baseball Philippines: Forward Taguig • Makati Mariners • Manila Sharks • Marikina Shoemakers Football NCRFA: All teams Collegiate sports NCAA: All teams - UAAP: All teams Sports venues Araneta Coliseum • Blue Eagle Gym • Cuneta Astrodome • Makati Coliseum • PhilSports Complex (Arena, Stadium) • San Andres Gym • San Juan Gym • Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (Coliseum, NAS, Baseball Stadium, Track and Football Stadium) • University of Santo Tomas Sports Complex • The Arena in San Juan • Ynares Sports Arena Defunct leagues Ang Liga • Ang Liga Pilipina • Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association • Manila Premier Football League • Metropolitan Basketball Association Defunct teams MBA: Manila Metrostars • Pasig-Rizal Pirates • San Juan Knights - NBC: Forward Taguig • Parañaque Jets v • d • e World's twenty most populous metropolitan areas     1 Tokyo-Yokohama 2 Seoul-Incheon 3 Mexico City 4 New York (Tri-State Region) 5 Mumbai  6 Jakarta  7 São Paulo  8 Delhi  9 Keihanshin 10 Shanghai 11 Manila 12 Hong Kong-Shenzhen 13 Los Angeles 14 Kolkata 15 Moscow 16 Cairo 17 Buenos Aires 18 London 19 Beijing 20 Karachi v • d • e World's fifty most-populous urban areas Tokyo –Yokohama Jakarta Mumbai Delhi Manila New York São Paulo Seoul –Incheon Mexico City Shanghai Cairo Osaka –Kobe –Kyoto Kolkata Los Angeles Shenzhen Beijing Moscow Guangzhou Istanbul Karachi Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Dongguan Paris Dhaka Nagoya Lagos Chicago London Kinshasa Bangkok Tehran Lima Bogotá Ho Chi Minh City Chennai Johannesburg –East Rand Ruhr Area  (Essen–Düsseldorf) Bangalore Lahore Hong Kong Hyderabad Tianjin Taipei Toronto –Hamilton Baghdad Kuala Lumpur Santiago Dallas –Fort Worth San Francisco –San Jose

Coordinates: 14°35′N 121°00′E / 14.583°N 121°E / 14.583; 121