In Metro Manila, the rapid growth in population and concentration of population and economy, and rapid growth in motorization, has caused many urban transport and environmental problems that became evident in the 1990s. Metro Manila, a megacity with an area of 636 square kilometers that includes 17 cities and municipalities, had a population of 9.93 million in 2000, which represents 13% of the population (65.6 million) of the Philippines. The national population growth rate was estimated at 2.36% in 1995-2000.
According to the Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study (MMUTIS), Metro Manila can be characterized by the following urban development characteristics: rapid suburbanization, intensification of density in the inner areas, intensive and uncontrolled urban developments, and highly mixed land use and proliferation of slum communities (Japan International Cooperation Agency, 1999).
