Gentrification: When Old Neighborhood is Redeveloped Into A New Neighborhood

Photo by Marfil Graganza Aquino from Pexels

With the influx of migrant workers from mainland China working with locally based Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGOs) companies located in Metro Manila and elsewhere in the major cities of the Philippines. A number of locals are being displaced and being uprooted out of their from their homes and old community where they have grown or lived over the years to accommodate new developments in place with old neighborhoods being torn down and redeveloped into new posh neighborhoods complete with business / commercial establishments and others catering only to those that can afford the luxury and lifestyle of the modern high society.

What is Gentrification?

Gentrification is a process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. This is a common and controversial topic nowadays with is happening around communities in Metro Manila. Politics, lack of urban planning and graft & corruption in recent times stirred problems in the NCR. In the world alone, housing rents have risen tremendously at three folds. An example of this is Amsterdam in the Netherlands and the city of London in United Kingdom with prices skyrocketing because of the tourism and international investors coming from the Far East. Local residents of London or Amsterdam are moving out of these cities and living a few kilometers away from suburban areas close to the capital or another city with lesser cost of living but accessible to their work / employment and businesses.

What's Up: The Trains Are Coming to the North (Part 2)!

This is a continuation from the first part previously published last April 16, 2019 (see link ).

The Golden Years of  Philippine Railways (1950s, 1960s and 1970s)

After World War II, the Philippine railways was rehabilitated by the U.S. Military before the Philippine independence of July 4 1946. The U.S. Army had paid a  total amount of US$ to compensate for the use of the railway for transport of men and equipment during World War II in Asia - Pacific region (1941 - 1945). Surplus of equipments 

By 1950s, the MRR fleet of trains shifted from steam engines to diesel powered engines. Later on, the company was given charter under Republic Act 4156, creation of the modern-day Philippine National Railways (PNR).




The Light Railways of the 1980s

During the Marcos regime, President Marcos would be credited for the establishment of Manila Light Railway Transit Sytem Line 1 or “LRT 1” for most of those living in Metro Manila which starts from Monumento Station, Caloocan City to Baclaran Station in Pasay City.  The Central Terminal to Baclaran route was inaugurated in 1^st of December 1984 and an extension connecting from Central Terminal to Carriedo Station going to Monumento Station was formally opened on 12^th of May 1985.