All Roads Lead to Cubao: A Geospatial Centrality Analysis of Cubao as Metro Manila’s Public Transportation Core

Abstract. Metro Manila, one of Southeast Asia’s most densely populated regions, faces persistent public transportation challenges. Transport hubs like Cubao, One Ayala Terminal, and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) are vital in managing commuter flows across the metropolitan area and surrounding regions. However, there is limited spatial and network-based evidence on which among these hubs serves as the most central and accessible point in the broader transport network, creating a gap in transport planning. This study examines Cubao’s role as a central transportation hub using network centrality analysis, focusing on betweenness and closeness, and compares it with the other hubs. Results reveal that Cubao exhibits the highest betweenness (0.475) and closeness centrality scores (1.018), indicating its position as the central and accessible node in the network. Hot spot analysis confirms that Quezon City, where Cubao is situated, is a highly dense residential area. Geographic distribution of urban facilities also shows that the chosen amenities cluster near Cubao and is located within the directional distribution ellipse. This proximity to key urban facilities, including its location as a high residential area, supports its function as a major attractor for commuters. Furthermore, the predicted trip volume highlights Cubao’s high commuter flow compared to other hubs. The findings affirm Cubao’s dominant role in Metro Manila’s transport network and demonstrate the potential of centrality-based network analysis as a tool for urban transport planning. The methods can also be replicated to assess transportation hubs, guiding evidence-based accessibility, infrastructure, and transportation development across the area.