Alongside Warsaw, Stalingrad, and Nanjing, Manila was one of the most devastated cities during World War 2, with three centuries of Spanish and American development nearly destroyed by Japanese and US infighting.
The status of Metropolitan Manila today is one of horrible pollution and depressing congestion. As a Manila commuter myself, visiting other cities such as Hong Kong and Tokyo make me realize just how bad Manila's urban planning was.
What would be the best course of action after World War 2 to prevent the current status of Manila, and to bring it to an equal or greater status compared to similar Asian cities?