Stepping Through Time: The Strength of Marikina's Shoe Industry

For a long time, Marikina has been known for its shoe craftsmanship and quality. Examining the data from 1991 to 2025, you can see a story of high peaks, challenging periods, and a push for revival in the present day. This is an analytical look at the manufacturing scene in the "Shoe Capital."

The Golden Age and the Big Drop

• In the early 1990s, Marikina's shoe industry was a huge success. The numbers show a big jump in the number of registered manufacturers during this time:

• The Peak in 1994: The industry reached its peak in 1994, when there were 513 registered manufacturers.

• A Decade of Stability: From the middle to the end of the 1990s, the city always had between 400 and 500 active manufacturers.

• The Turning Point: When the year 2000 came around, the numbers started to drop steadily. The number of manufacturers fell to a record low of 139 by 2008.

The Modern Landscape (2021–2025)

After a time of relative stagnation in the 2010s, the industry faced new problems in the early 2020s. But in the last few years, the community has been working hard to keep its identity.

Registered Manufacturers Over the Last 5 Years:

2021: 103

2022: 124  

2023: 130  

2024: 115  

2025: 108 

As of 2025, there are 108 manufacturers in the city, and the industry is still a major source of income for 1,727 workers.

Where the Industry's Heart Beats

The industry doesn't cover the whole city; it does best in certain "shoe hubs." Based on the data from 2025, these are the barangays with the most manufacturers:

Sto. Niño: 26 Manufacturers (The city's current leader)

Concepcion I: 23 Manufacturers

San Roque: 20 Manufacturers

Parang: 11 Manufacturers

Interestingly, while San Roque has fewer manufacturers than Sto. Niño, it is a massive employment hub, with some of its registered footwear businesses contributing significantly to the city's total workforce.

Incentivizing the Future: Ordinance No. 110

The city government passed Ordinance No. 110 (Series of 2021) to stop the number of artisans from going down and to get new ones to join. This policy gives local shoe and leather goods makers a lot of tax breaks:

For New Businesses (Starting in 2022): * 1st Year: 100% off business taxes

Second Year: 75% off business taxes

Third Year: 60% off business taxes

For businesses that are already up and running, a permanent 50% tax break to help them stay in business.

Last Thoughts

The data shows that Marikina's shoe industry is still strong, even though it is smaller than it was at its peak in 1994. With targeted tax breaks and many skilled workers employed in Marikina shoe manufacturing companies, the city keeps moving forward, and "Made in Marikina" will be a source of pride for years to come.

Reference: STATISTICAL REPORT REGISTERED - FOOTWEAR (1991-2025) - Marikina City Official Website

Which Marikina Roads Became National Roads

In recent decades, the landscape of Marikina City has seen significant infrastructure shifts as several of its key local thoroughfares were reclassified as national roads. This legal transformation, enacted through various Republic Acts (R.A.) passed by the Philippine Congress and archived in the Senate of the Philippines Legislative Reference Bureau, places these roads under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

By converting these roads, the national government takes over the funding for their maintenance, repair, and improvement—an essential move for a city that serves as a vital gateway between Metro Manila and the province of Rizal.

Here is a list of Marikina roads reclassified as national roads, based on legislative records since 2010:

Gil Fernando street sign

1. Gil Fernando Avenue

• Legislation: Republic Act No. 10079
• Date of Approval: April 20, 2010
• Scope: This act converted Gil Fernando Avenue, which traverses Barangays Sto. Niño and San Roque, into a national road. This avenue is a major commercial artery that connects Sumulong Highway to the Marikina-Infanta Highway (Marcos Highway).

Shoe Avenue

2. Shoe Avenue 

• Legislation: Republic Act No. 10138 
• Date of Approval: June 3, 2010 
• Scope: Traverses Barangays San Roque, Sta. Elena, and Sto. Niño. As one of the city's most iconic streets, named after its primary industry, the conversion ensured that the national government would oversee the upkeep of this central corridor. 

Gen. Ordonez Ave.

3. General Ordoñez Avenue 

• Legislation: Republic Act No. 10385 
• Date of Approval: March 14, 2013 
• Scope: This extensive road traverses the second district of Marikina, specifically Barangays Marikina Heights, Concepcion Uno, Concepcion Dos, and Parang. Its conversion was pivotal for the residential and commercial hubs of the "Upper Marikina" area. 

4. Roxas Street 

• Legislation: Republic Act No. 10415 
• Date of Approval: March 26, 2013 
• Scope: Located in Barangays Kalumpang and San Roque, Roxas Street serves as a critical link for commuters heading toward the boundaries of Pasig and Santolan. 

corner of Katipunan St and Rainbow St., SSS Village

5. Katipunan Street 

• Legislation: Republic Act No. 10418 
• Date of Approval: March 26, 2013 
• Scope: Katipunan Street traverses Barangay Concepcion Uno and Barangay Concepcion Dos. It is a major residential thoroughfare that supports the flow of traffic within the city’s second district.

Summary Table of Converted Roads

Road Name	Republic Act	Date Approved
Gil Fernando Avenue	R.A. 10079	April 20, 2010
Shoe Avenue	R.A. 10138	June 3, 2010
Gen. Ordoñez Avenue	R.A. 10385	March 14, 2013
Roxas Street	R.A. 10415	March 26, 2013
Katipunan Street	R.A. 10418	March 26, 2013

Why Conversion Matters

The conversion of these local streets into national roads is more than just a change in nomenclature. According to the standard provisions of these Republic Acts, the Secretary of Public Works and Highways is mandated to include the improvement and maintenance of these roads in the Department’s annual program. The funding is specifically sourced from the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

For Marikina residents, this means more consistent road quality and better-integrated drainage systems, which are crucial for the city's flood mitigation efforts. By offloading the financial burden of these major roads to the national treasury, the local government can redirect its own budget toward smaller community projects and barangay-level services.

References: 

https://issuances-library.senate.gov.ph/bills/house-bill-no-3394-15th-congress-republic

https://issuances-library.senate.gov.ph/bills/house-bill-no-4723-14th-congress-republic

https://issuances-library.senate.gov.ph/bills/house-bill-no-4664-14th-congress-republic

https://ldr.senate.gov.ph/bills/house-bill-no-2767-15th-congress-republic

https://issuances-library.senate.gov.ph/legislative%2Bissuances/Republic%20Act%20No.%2010385

More Than Just Government: The History and Resilience of Marikina City Hall

The current Marikina City Hall, located at the heart of Santa Elena, was constructed in 1969.

Marikina City Hall isn't just a center for permits and paperwork; it is a symbol of the city's transformation from a humble "shoe capital" to a multi-awarded, highly urbanized model city.

Whether you’re a local walking through Freedom Park or a visitor curious about how this city became a multi-awarded model for the Philippines, the history of City Hall offers a fascinating glimpse into the soul of Marikina."

Before this building existed, the municipal government operated out of the Chanyungco House (a beautiful ancestral home located beside the Kapitan Moy Building in San Roque) and later a smaller building. The 1969 structure was built during the term of Mayor Osmundo de Guzman to accommodate the growing administrative needs of what was then a rapidly industrializing municipality.

This is the back of Marikina City Hall, but it looks as impressive as its facade.

Key Milestones & Historical Facts

• From Town to City (1996): One of the most significant events to occur within these walls was the transition of Marikina from a municipality to a highly urbanized city. On December 8, 1996, President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act No. 8223, officially granting Marikina its cityhood.
• Marikina “Clean and Green" (1990s): Under the leadership of Mayor Bayani Fernando, the City Hall became the "war room" for the city's famous radical cleanup. This era saw the clearing of sidewalks, the rehabilitation of the Marikina River, and the implementation of strict discipline that made Marikina a Hall of Fame awardee for being the "Cleanest and Greenest City" in the Philippines.
• Resilience Post-Ondoy (2009): The City Hall stood as a crucial command center during Typhoon Ondoy. While the building itself faced the challenges of the massive flood, it remained the central hub for the massive recovery efforts that defined Marikina’s reputation for disaster resilience.

  

  Freedom Park. A lot of events are held here, including shoe bazaars.

The Freedom Park Connection: Directly in front of the City Hall is Freedom Park, which serves as the "living room" of the city. It was designed to be an open space where citizens could interact directly with their government, reflecting a transparent and accessible leadership style.

While the core structure dates back to the late '60s, it has undergone several renovations to keep up with the times. Today, the facade features a blend of classic government architecture with modern glass finishes. Interestingly, the back of the City Hall looks as impressive as the front, showcasing busts of all the former Marikina mayors aligned parallel to the back entrance.