Urban Revitalization and Shelter Inadequacy: A Geospatial Analysis

This study examines the effects of urban revitalization strategies in Metro Manila, focusing on their implications for housing adequacy. Using geospatial and statistical analyses, the research integrates GIS-based mapping and demographic data to trace patterns of housing growth, land value changes, and spatial inequities associated with upzoning and urban renewal in Metro Manila. Findings reveal that revitalization projects have significantly transformed Metro Manila’s urban landscape, driving high-density mixed-use developments and increasing land values. However, these gains are spatially uneven, with nearby areas constrained by inadequate infrastructure and environmental risks experiencing minimal growth. While revitalization improved housing quality and expanded the residential stock, the supply of affordable housing remains concentrated in peripheral regions, reinforcing spatial inequalities and gentrification pressures. The study underscores the need for inclusive urban planning through policies such as inclusionary mixed-income zoning, transit-oriented development, and community land trust strategies that promote equitable urban growth. Comments to this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph.