The rapid urbanization and development in the Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) corridor in Metro Manila, Philippines, have led to an increase in traffic volume and emissions, which have negative impacts on the environment and human health. This study aims to examine the relationship between urbanization, traffic volume, carbon emissions, and climate change in the study area.
The research design used a conceptual framework that is based on the idea that urbanization is linked to increased emissions, which contribute to climate change and its negative impacts, including economic loss and disruption of humanitarian logistics during disaster events. The study used secondary data sources, including Comprehensive Land Use Plans, traffic volume, and climate data, to perform spatial, areal, economic, and statistical analyses to determine the relationship between urbanization, carbon emissions, and climate change impacts. The analytical framework explored measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change through emission mitigation, critical transport infrastructure development, and policy frameworks.
The study used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including Key Informant Interviews (KIl), to collect and analyze data. The KII results showed that most respondents were aware of the impacts of climate change, and flooding and heavy rainfall were ranked as the most common manifestations of climate change in the Philippines. Respondents agreed that major thoroughfares, such as C-5, can be categorized as critical transport infrastructure, and improved road connectivity during weather disturbances is a climate change adaptation measure. Respondents used C-5 mostly for work and being able to use C-5 is important to their daily life activities.
The results showed that urban built-up areas in the study area have been increasing since 1990, resulting in an increase in traffic volume and emissions. The data also revealed a strong positive correlation between emissions and fraffic volume in the study area from 2012 to 2020, with an R? value of 0.7936.
Furthermore, the study analyzed the relationship between country emissions and impacts of climate change using the review of related literature approach. Literature is consistent in their findings that there is a positive correlation between country emissions and sea surface temperature and a positive correlation between sea surface temperature and typhoon wind speed.
Finally, the study presented a flood risk assessment for the study area, showing the notable flood risk areas present. The study's findings suggest the need for urgent action to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the study area through emission reduction measures, critical transport infrastructure development, and policy frameworks that support sustainable urban development.

The identification of critical infrastructure facilities is critical for climate and disaster risk assessments that forms part of a resilient land use plan. This study utilized the application of a geo-analytics platform using free and open source software for geospatial analysis, namely Quantum GIS (QGIS) in generating multi-hazard exposure maps of critical infrastructure. facilities in Taguig City, Philippines. The study was conducted as a necessity for planners looking for an alternative viable solution for resilient land use planning using non-proprietary Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
The study developed a workflow for geospatial analysis with direct application in hazard exposure mapping for floods, active fault lines, and waterway easements. A review of open data portals was first performed which discussed the limitations and opportunities of existing official data repositories. A supplementary online survey was likewise conducted with local planners to understand their knowledge, skills, attitudes, and perceptions to GIS and its application to disaster risk assessment. The survey responses from local planning and development offices showed that they are open to improving institutional capacity and professional capabilities in GIS, particularly in QGIS. A comparative review of different spatial decision support systems for climate and disaster risk assessment was also carried out that revealed important ways forward in further developing open tools for disaster risk assessment. The case study was able to identify the multi-hazards exposure profile of Taguig City using open data while using the free and open-source software QGIS. The data used were accessed from online data portals that have free public access, and data formats useful for independent study.
The online survey also provided invaluable insights into the knowledge, skills, awareness, perceptions, and preferences of the respondents with regards to GIS-related topics. The results of the survey showed that there is a need for GIS training programs and in particular an expressed openness to learning QGIS. Also, the review of existing spatial decision support systems available in online and standalone platforms showcase the limitations and opportunities of adapting graphical models to automate the process of disaster risk assessments.
The study was able to- demonstrate a viable alternative geo-analytics platform using free and open-source software for geographic information systems and open data. Results of the comparative review of existing data portals and spatial decision support systems helped in the development of the proposed open resilience framework. Said framework was able to produce the required exposure maps of critical infrastructure in Taguig City.
In order to support the proposed open resilience framework, the results of the study recommend that a capability building program centered on Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) applications with modules for disaster risk assessment should be developed and offered to environmental planners or other personnel in the local planning and development offices or their counterparts in the local disaster risk management offices. In addition, the review of open data and data portals shows room for improvement in opening public data for disaster risk assessments. Open access to this information promotes transparency, innovation, and the capacity of more users in the disaster risk reduction and humanitarian action community for independent analysis.

City managers recognize the potential of smart city solutions to solve urban challenges through Information Communication Technology to improve quality of life and achieve sustainability. As one of the primary stakeholders, the public must be involved as co-planners, co-creators, and co-implementers of these smart city projects to ensure that these solutions prioritize the needs of citizens rather than the market-oriented agenda of private companies, but unfortunately, this is rarely covered in the literature. This study aims to examine public participation in planning and implementing smart city applications such as Pasig Pass, the QR-based Covid-19 contact tracing tool of Pasig City as a response to the urgent need for-safe solution to identify, notify, and monitor individuals who could be confirmed or probable cases to: (1) better understand smart city applications in the local setting; (2) determine the influence of public in planning and implementing smart city applications; (3) assess smart city applications in the perspective of the public; (4) and recommend action plans for local planning of smart cities. Key informant interviews were conducted among the local government unit subject matter experts and a survey of Pasig residents was organized to gather data for this research. Based on the findings, Pasig City understands the concept of a smart city and has started implementing smart city applications such as the Command Control Center, Online Application of Business Permit, and Payment of Taxes even before the smart city ecosystem was formally included in their Comprehensive Development Plan 2022 - 2027 as part of Institutional Sector. On the level of public participation, there is a gap between the perception of the LGU that identified residents as “Consulted” while residents articulated that they are only “Informed” about Pasig Pass. Despite this, the residents gave a high positive rating for Pasig Pass in terms of awareness, accessibility, ease of use, trust in government, compatibility, and data security given the LGU efforts during the implementation. However, Pasig Pass cannot be completely declared as an effective smart city initiative as the residents are compelled to use it. This research recommends for planners and city managers to implement a mare inclusive approach in planning smart city initiatives, leverage the data generated by Pasig Pass as input to data-driven policymaking and formulate projects and programs aligned with the priority issues affecting the public. Moreover, this study advocates adopting a smart city roadmap instead of simultaneous implementations that allow flexibility to adjust based on their adoption. Lastly, this research reminds planners to prioritize finding appropriate solutions to urban problems rather than pushing for adoption of new technologies, and the long- term goal remains - to create “people-centric” cities.

This research study aims to contribute to the discussion on the role of the social sector in housing and to make recommendations for the housing sector and other planning groups. Being a long-standing national problem, the housing crisis has been a complex issue brought about by the overwhelming situation of poverty, the influx of rural folk to the cities, the high cost of land and housing unit production, rapid population growth, and limited capital of the government to provide housing for the people. These factors created manifestations that are especially apparent in cities through the increase of the slum population and housing needs. This study aims to: 1) perform case studies and examine the housing projects accomplished by the public, private, and people sectors in housing provision for the poor; 2) analyze the roles of the three actors by identifying its strengths and weaknesses; 3) identify housing provision strategies of each actor that may be emulated to facilitate the production of housing units for the poor.

Furthermore, this study demonstrates the uniqueness of each planning actor’s role in shelter planning and that each actor has a particular ability and function that other actors cannot execute and achieve. The identification of strengths and weaknesses were vital in making recommendations to the housing sector. The findings and conclusions of this thesis focus on each sector’s unique system, dynamics and approach in housing provision. The major findings and conclusions are as follows:

Public Sector Initiated Housing Project
Displays stability in terms of financial and manpower resources
Smooth project accomplishment
Well-funded
Can initiate and sustain large-scale housing projects
The support of the mayor plays a key role in making housing a priority of the LGU
Needs to empower the beneficiaries to be financially capable of paying the monthly amortization

Private Sector Initiated Housing Project
Mainly profit-oriented
Cannot produce as much housing units in the NCR due to high cost of land
Projects are concentrated in CALABARZON cities and municipalities where investments on land and development can cost less

People Sector Initiated Housing Project
Given the funding, resources, involvement of technical, administrative, as well as volunteer workforce, and local government support, a housing project initiated by any people’s organization is an achievable undertaking
Aside from providing housing, the people-sector empowers the beneficiaries to be financially capable and independent

Generally, the study affirms the actuality of the partnership of the public, private, and people sector and its unique contributions in resolving planning issues such as housing.

According to World Health Organization (2018). road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults (5-29 years of age), highlighting the importance of safer campus roads. Moreover, it has articulated the importance of utilizing reliable and valid evidence in the formulation of road safety policies and programs to avoid wasting limited resources on measures that are not effective and have minimal impact (WHO, 2018). In 2008, U.P. Diliman's Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA), in cooperation with Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS), implemented the U.P. Diliman Traffic Safety Model Zone, a scheme aimed at making U.P. Diliman a "model campus in road traffic management and safety" Nevertheless, the UPDP data shows that the number of road crash incidents on campus increased from 1 10 in 2014 to 152 in 2017, with an annual growth rate of 1 1.82%. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of road crash data and its utilization in improving road safety in the U.P. Diliman. Towards this end, the researcher documented the road crash reporting and recording process of the U.P. Diliman Police (UPDP). The road crash data recorded by the UPDP was compared with the Campus Safety and Mobility Office (CSMO) of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU). which records road crashes in AdMU. Besides being the second largest campus in Metro Manila in terms of land, AdMU has an established office mandated to enforce and develop proper campus safety and mobility programs. For this reason, the researcher identified it as a proper fit for comparison. In addition, the data collected by the UPDP was evaluated for conformity of the road crash data with what is recorded at the regional and national levels as conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The researcher also analyzed the road crash data from the UPDP using heat maps to identify the accident-prone areas and checked the availability of road safety interventions. Findings revealed that several essential data elements were not captured in the UPDP data, such as driver error, driver state (use of alcohol or drugs), weather and light condition, road type, road conditions, traffic control, movement (1-way or 2-way), vehicle defect, and vehicle damage. These data could potentially help understand the root causes of a road crash on campus. Regarding the crash location, only street names and simple location descriptions are recorded. The UPDP does not use a global positioning system (GPS) or determine X and Y coordinates, leading to inaccuracy in identifying crash locations. Not to mention, the manual encoding of the road crash data into a Word file makes it challenging to analyze these. Moreover, the interviews with UPDP and OVCCA revealed that the road crash data are not fully utilized to develop interventions to be implemented on campus. In fact, it was revealed that the UPDP does not analyze the data to the extent that it could identify accident blackspots and the factors why crashes occurred. UPDP reports that are provided to the OVCCA serve as file reports and do not reflect the road safety problems on campus. Per the key informant interview (KII) with the UPDP, interventions implemented are based on observations and requests from the Diliman community. This is backed by the heat maps prepared by the researcher, which showed that the accident blackspots were consistent from 2014 to 2017. The researcher also found that the interventions in the identified areas are either not available or ineffective. Based on the relevant findings, the researcher recommended improving the road accident data systems by reporting accurate crash locations, transferring data encoding from Microsoft Word to Excel, enhancing recorded data elements, and assigning office/staff to help analyze road crash data. For the accident-prone areas, the University may consider options like installing traffic controls, calming measures, road markings, clear regulatory signs, CCTVs, and establishing vehicular flow on parking lots. The researcher also recommended formulating a road crash reporting procedure to increase awareness of how people can report a crash and the importance of doing so.