Paper 383 1 SPATIAL MICROSIMULATION OF RESIDENTIAL AND EMPLOYMENT LOCATION CHOICES IN METRO MANILA: TOWARDS A SPATIAL PLANNING AND DECISION SUPPORT TOOL Noriel Christopher C. TIGLAO Assistant Professor National College of Public Administration and Governance University of the Philippines Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, Philippines Tel: +63 2 928 3861 Fax: +63 2 928 3861 E-mail: nctiglao@up.edu.ph Morito TSUTSUMI Associate Professor Department of Policy and Planning Sciences University of Tsukuba 1-1-1 Tennou-dai, Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8573 Japan Tel: +81-29-853 5007 Fax: +81-29-853 5007 E-mail: tsutsumi@sk.tsukuba.ac.jp Abstract: The development of urban models has been prompted by the need for informed policy recommendations from urban planners and informed decisions by policymakers. The imperative to develop integrated urban models for developing countries is growing with the need to enhance rational decision-making processes in controlling and directing urban change. The demand for urban models for developing countries is particularly great because of the large number of variables and required policy parameters, the complex relationships among them, and the long-term consequences of public decisions. A spatial microsimulation model called InformalSim has been developed for Metro Manila. The microsimulation model uniquely provides detailed household microdata and allows the identification of the so-called ‘informal households’. This paper presents the development of residential and employment location choice models as extensions to the existing microsimulation model. Finally, the paper presents the possible role of such models in the development of spatial planning and decision support tool for developing countries. Keywords: spatial microsimulation, location choice, integrated urban model, developing countries