A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering of the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand .

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1973

Computer-based modelling has rarely, if ever, been one of the techniques resorted to in comprehensive planning among developing countries. Even if one encounters sophisticated methods, invariably the emphasis has been on income accounts. This thesis departs from this traditional approache. A systems model is developed, under conditions of limited data, based on the source of the problems and the motive for planning -the .people themselves. Five interrelated problem areas were identified and modelled from verbal descriptions and simple analytical expressions found in the literature. These areas are: population, education, agriculture and land use, urbanization and housing, and employment, The areas were viewed as interlocking subsystems whose outputs serve as indicants for planning efforts in the Philippines. Varying levels of aggregation among the five subsystems emerged from the modelling work. The population module is sufficiently detailed as to break down ages into 5-year cohorts and pinpoint age-correlated variables, Education ranks second in global refinement with categorization of 3 sequential stages of formal schooling to simulate the actual flow of pupils. Classification of population into urban and rural permits determination of the number of cities in a hierarchy, Others are macrostructured. Implications of the simulation results and of the systems model to planning were discussed in conclusion.