The impacts of rapid urbanization in the rural-urban fringe area : the case in the Province of Cavite, Philippines

Abstract

People living in the rural-urban fringe areas face opportunities and challenges as a result of the urban expansion. Urbanization in the areas is seen by the rise in the number of commercial centres, residential subdivisions, and industrial and technology establishments which pose employment opportunities and income generation to the local people. However, the extended economic activities in urban areas into rural-urban fringe areas, will put pressures on the latter’s agricultural lands and will become a crucial area for sustainable urbanization. It poses challenges for locals who must meet their basic needs while also adjusting to the effects of land use conversion and population growth, which put a significant pressure on the environment, social services, and existing infrastructure. This paper will attempt to analyse the impacts of urbanization in socio-economic outcomes and the environment, and how it alters the agricultural landscapes in the rural-urban fringe area, the Province of Cavite, Philippines. Additionally, it will investigate the local government’s initiatives/policies/strategies to implement urban sustainability and how it addresses the pressures brought by urbanization in the province.