Palafox

09/10/2026

How can better urban planning help build a more resilient Philippines?

In this Inquirer article, discover insights on the importance of visionary leadership, good planning, and sustainable development in shaping safer, more livable communities.

Read the full article here:

The geography of the Philippines is both a blessing and a curse. We are rich in natural resources, but we are also highly susceptible to natural hazards. And when a vulnerable community is exposed to

08/10/2026

A meaningful conversation about a life dedicated to building a better Philippines.

Thank you to Best of the Philippines (BOP) for taking the time to sit down with Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. and for giving us the opportunity to share the stories, experiences, and lessons behind more than five decades in architecture and urban planning.

We are grateful for this opportunity and excited to see this story take shape. Here’s to preserving the lessons of the past and inspiring the generations that will build the Philippines of tomorrow. 🇵🇭

07/10/2026

What if one of the simplest solutions to our traffic crisis is already within reach?

In his latest Manila Times article, Arch. Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. explores active mobility—walking, cycling, and better connections to public transport—as a low-cost, high-impact way to ease congestion and build more livable cities.

Read the full article to learn why “we need to move people, not just cars”:

MOTORISTS, transport workers and commuters are in a panic once more as fuel prices increase due to the conflict in the Middle East. And as we enter the “ber” months, we can only expect traffic congestion to worsen.

06/10/2026

There can be no economic development without adequate infrastructure.

Long before connectivity became central to today’s conversations on regional development, Architect Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. had already envisioned an interconnected Philippines.

As early as 1976, Arch. Palafox proposed connecting the country’s islands through an integrated network of railways, tunnels, and bridges. His vision went beyond transportation: connect regions, open new economic opportunities, create jobs, alleviate poverty, and enable more balanced development across the country.

The principle is simple: infrastructure creates connectivity, connectivity creates access, and access creates opportunities.
This is why the conversation around regional connectivity and economic corridors remains so important. Infrastructure should not merely make travel faster—it should help make investment, employment, services, and economic activity more accessible to more Filipinos.

Arch. Palafox has long envisioned a Philippines where every region can become an international gateway in its own right, building stronger regional economies while moving the country toward greater interdependence and balanced development.

Moving the Philippines forward means building not only roads, railways, bridges, and tunnels—but also the connections that allow opportunity to reach every region.

02/10/2026

Every year, we face the same cycle.

Floods. Typhoons. Landslides. Displacement. Billions in damage. Then, as the waters recede, we rebuild—only to face the same vulnerabilities when the next disaster comes.

Yet many of the solutions are already within our reach.

As Arch. Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. emphasizes, it is far less costly to address hazards before they become disasters—not only in terms of money, but in lives, livelihoods, and communities protected.

The challenge is to move from a reactive culture of disaster response to a proactive culture of risk reduction—where better planning, resilient infrastructure, and sound development decisions anticipate hazards before they strike.

We cannot keep rebuilding from the same disasters. We must start designing against them.

30/09/2026

Beyond “habagat” and El Niño, are we truly prepared for what comes next?

In his latest Manila Times article, Arch. Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. explores why climate resilience requires more than responding to individual weather events—and why proactive planning, from ridge to reef, is essential to protecting lives, livelihoods, and our communities.

Read the full article and discover how better planning can help us prepare for the hazards of tomorrow.

“HOW’s the weather today?”

29/09/2026

Building better communities begins with empowering the people who plan them.

Arch. Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. recently delivered the keynote message at the 2026 CALABARZON Regional Planners’ Forum and Zoning Conference, held under the theme “Empowering Local Planners through Innovative, Data-Driven, and Energy-Efficient Approaches for Urban Climate Action.”

We thank DEPDev Region IV-A, DHSUD Region IV-A, and the CALABARZON League of Local Planning and Development Coordinators of the Philippines (LLPDCPI) for bringing together local planners, zoning officers, and industry experts to strengthen competencies and foster collaboration in advancing development and physical planning.

Initiatives such as this are vital to building visionary leadership and good governance at the local level. When planners are equipped with better data, innovative tools, and forward-looking approaches, they are better positioned to make informed decisions that shape more sustainable, resilient, and livable communities.

Good planning is not simply about designing places for today—it is about giving communities the vision and capacity to prepare for tomorrow.

25/09/2026

Laguna Lake is central to the conversation on flood resilience.

As Metro Manila and surrounding provinces continue to face flooding, we must look beyond individual flood-control projects and understand how our entire water system works together.

As Ar. Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. puts it, “Laguna Lake is like a toilet without a flush.”

What would it take to give our region a more effective way to manage water?

Planning for resilience means thinking beyond today—and designing for the next 25, 50, and 100 years.

24/09/2026

What makes a local government a model? Is it the projects it delivers today, or the long-term vision it builds for its people?

In his latest The Manila Times article, Ar. Jun Palafox shares insights from his experience as a judge of the Model Cities and Municipalities Awards, examining the qualities of good governance and the need for long-term, visionary, and resilient planning.

Read the full article and discover what it takes to build truly smart, sustainable, and resilient communities:

AMONG the local government units (LGUs), which one do you think exemplifies good governance?

22/09/2026

Thank you to Atty. Joey Lina for mentioning PALAFOX and our advocacies, and to MANILA BULLETIN for providing a platform for meaningful conversations on the future of our cities and communities.

We believe informed discussions are essential to building a better Philippines—through better planning, design, and visionary leadership.

Read the full article and join the conversation:

FINDING ANSWERSInstead of merely reacting when streets turn into waterways and rivers overflow, we could use science, technology and better planning to make the...