I.

Abstract
The purpose of this case study is to review the existing development in the
Municipality of Imus. The first part defines the historical background and profile of
the municipality with regards to health, land area, housing, education, and
transport. The succeeding parts discuss the existing condition of the municipality
based on the set Land Use Plans of 1997-2007 and 2007 2017.

II.

Introduction
A. Historical Background
Back in the late sixteenth century, a colonial resettlement program by the
Spaniards designed to integrate Filipinos into religious and political institutions
was implemented in the areas in the Province of Cavite. Starting in 1595, centers
of religious and economic activities were established as mission towns. Imus
became one in 1775.
On October 30, 1776, due to the Royal Decree, the Municipality of Imus was
established, and eventually became an independent municipality in 1796.
The historical importance of the municipality is exemplified by the first victory
of the Filipino revolution against Spanish rule in the Battle of Alapan. It was also in
Imus where the Philippine flag was first unfurled to commemorate the victory
against the Spaniards.

Monument of the Battle of Imus

B. Locations
The Municipality of Imus is one of the lowland towns in the Province of Cavite.
It is approximately 18 kilometers from Manila and can be reached either through
Binakayan, or through the Cavite Coastal Road and Gen. Aguinaldo Highway that
leads to Tagaytay City. Five towns bound the municipality: Kawit in the north;
Bacoor in the northeast; General Trias in the west; Dasmarias in the south; and
Muntinlupa in the east.

C. Political Subdivisions
On June 11, 1977, the Municipality of Imus was proclaimed as
the capital town of the Province of Cavite by
virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1163. In 1986,
it was classified as a First Class Municipality due
to rapid increases in revenues and population
growth. It also falls within the category of a minor urban
center in the province.
Originally, the municipality is composed of twenty-one (21) barangays, but
was increased to ninety-one (91) on August 16, 1990 due the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Resolution No. 305. Currently, the municipality has 97 barangays.

Imus Plaza
D. Land Area
The Municipality of Imus occupies a total land area of 9,701 hectares including
a disputed area estimated at 4,386.4 hectares, which may have been portions of
Tanzang Luma, Anabu I and Anabu II. This represents 6.9 % of the total land area
of the whole Province of Cavite measuring 142,706 hectares.
E. Vegetation and Soil Type
The soils at the northern and eastern portions of the town are silt and loam.
These types of soil are coarse and granular when dry but sticky and plastic when
wet.
These soils are generally suited to lowland rice cultivation and upland crop
production. The principal crops are palay and vegetables. Other crops like corn,

pineapple, sugarcane, coconuts and fruits trees are also planted but not in
commercial scale. Bamboo shrubs abound along the river banks.
F. Education
Education is a foremost concern of the municipality as shown by its high
literacy rate of 98% and impressive growth in the number of educational
institutions in the area. There are 187 registered schools offering either formal or
informal education to the more than 73,710 school-going age population of Imus
during the SY 2007-2008.
G. Health
The overall health situation in Imus is generally acceptable.

It has three

privately-owned hospitals located strategically in the municipality. It also has 2

Rural Health Units (RHUs) and 35 Barangay Health Stations (BHSs) that respond
to the health needs of the populace.
Health services being offered include primary health care, treatment of minor
ailments, maternal and child health care, dental health, nutrition, family planning,
expanded program on immunization and other related activities.
H. Housing
Using the NSO Census of 2000 as basis for projection, Imus has a total of
51,120 households occupying 50,098 housing units. This ratio of 1:1 clearly
indicates that no housing backlog is noted in the municipality. Average household
size is five (5) members per household.
There are 257 residential subdivisions in the municipality covering a total land
area of 1,480.743 hectares.

I.

Transport
The municipalitys mode of transportation is primarily road-based. Jeepneys,

cars, tricycles and vans abound in the area. Road condition is generally fair. 58%
of the road network is concrete, 32% asphalted, and only 10% unpaved.
III.

Discussion

Population, growth of commercial activities, presence of community

facilities, accessibility and location served as basis in the following barangay
grouping or clustering. All subdivisions in the original barangays are also
considered in the clustering.
The existing land use of the municipality can be classified as built-up
and agricultural. Built-up areas include residential, commercial, institutional,
industrial, and open spaces and agricultural lands.
Based on the Existing land use of Imus (1995-2015), residential areas
cover 1,743.72 hectares (17.97) of the total land area, while commercial areas
takes up 65.77 hectares; 24.48 hectares for institutional areas; 45.30 hectares
for open spaces; 25 hectares for cemeteries; and 243.76 hectares for roads.
Meanwhile,

1,939.97

hectares

are

reserved

for

industrial

and

agricultural areas, taking up 54.78% of the total land area.

Major commercial activities are found in the following areas: the public
market compound; the right side of the Imus Blvd., fronting the public market;
portion on both sides of the Tanzang Luma Rd.; and both sides of the
Aguinaldo Hwy.
There is also a commercial development from the Aguinaldo Hwy. from
Bucandala to the Imus- Dasmarias Boundary, particularly in the Anabu areas
which is further exemplified by the construction of several malls including, but
not limited to: The District Imus, and SNR.

Figure 1- Zoning Map 1997 to 2007

the CLUP Zoning

According to
Map of 1997-

2007 (See Fig. 1), the largest parcel of land is reserved for Light and Medium
Industrial Zones, which is Anabu I & II, Buhay na Tubig, Palico IV, Anabu I-G,
Pasong Buaya I, and Pasong Buaya II; followed by Low and Medium density
Residential Zones; and lastly the Agricultural Zone and disputed areas.
However, based on the new Zoning Map of 2007 - 2017 (See Fig. 2),
the General Residential zone now takes up the largest parcel of land; followed
by the Industrial zone, Docialized Housing zone, and Agricultural zone. Notice
that a significant portion of agricultural land has now been converted to a
residential zone.

Another point in consideration is the proposed road from Municipality

of Kawit leading to Daang Hari Extension west portion of Imus that will pass
through agricultural areas.

In

regards

Figure 2- Zoning Map 2007 to 2017

with

the

provincial plan of Imus being a residential town, the agricultural areas will be
reduced to 1,701.63 hectares.

The other remaining idle/vacant agricultural

areas may likewise give way to other infrastructure support facilities.

IV.

Conclusion
8

With the implementation of the updated Zoning Map (2007-2017),

significant developments have taken place in the municipality of Imus
particularly in the Anabu area where several new malls, Lumina Point, The
District Imus, Citymall, and SNR, are constructed.
However, with the presence of the aforementioned

large-scale

developments particularly in the city center, traffic volume subsequently

increased, resulting in loss of revenue for small establishments.
Rice and crop production is threatened due to conversion of agricultural
lands to non-agricultural lands particularly in the Alapan and Malagasang
areas.
The developments in the municipality (residential, commercial, industrial,
etc.) adhere to the Proposed Land Use plan.

V.

Recommendations
While there is nothing wrong with commercial developments, it should be
considered that some areas need to be preserved, such as the agricultural
areas. A moratorium on agricultural land reclassification should be imposed.
Commercial developments should at least have integrated open spaces.
As for the current traffic condition, a better traffic plan should be
implemented. Areas with high vehicular traffic are found to have higher levels
of air pollution than the acceptable standards.