The paper is an exposition on the features and advantages of the growth pole or polar development concept as a pragmatic and flexible strategy for the development of a fast urbanizing region like the Metropolitan Manila area. As a case in point, the Manila Bay Metropolitan Region Strategic Plan (MBMRSP), one of the three development planning projects under United Nations Development Program (UNDP) assistance jointly undertaken by the Planning and Project Development Office of the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communications, is extensively discussed. The MBMRSP is basically a strategic development approach to rationally guide the growth of Metropolitan Manila within the context of regional development of the country.