ON-SITE RE-HOUSING FOR INFORMAL SETTLERS FAMILIES (ISFs)
Be it gentrification
or a humanitarian act in any country for that matter, the ISF or the so called Informal Settlers
Families which represents 37% of the population of the National Capital Region (NCR) of the
Philippines or more than four million people, lived in slums as of 2008 (HUDCC
2008) is undeniably the subject needing to be addressed. This refers to family household/s living in
vulnerable areas not for habitation; on a lot or lots without the consent of
the property owner nor with formal legal documents of agreement; in areas
reserved for government infrastructure projects; in protected or forest areas
(except for indigenous people); in areas for priority development, if applicable;
and on other government/public lands or facilities not intended for habitation
(Senate Bill 1104).
Appearing
as persistent and dynamic-pursuing group of people, they are known as
marginalized, on the other hand, they also become instruments used by
politicians in their massive actions for
poverty alleviations if not for politician’s personal bested interests. Like the
sprawling organism occupying the danger zone
defined as the areas along creeks, or bodies of water, Informal settlements often lack the
following critical living conditions: access to improved water; access to
improved sanitation facilities; sufficient living area (not more than three
people sharing a room); structural quality and durability of dwellings; and
security of tenure (UN–Habitat 2008).
Metro Manila in its water table level that is
so low and prone to flood and the location
of the Philippines as typhoon prone country had hasten the situation of these
ISF to be a critical scenario not just during typhoon months of the year but
whole year round.
This situation of the
ISF had awakened both the government and private sectors to create programs and
social preparation. The
process of establishing social and organizational capabilities, norms and
mechanisms that will enable the settlers to work together and develop their
housing resettlement plans. This takes place in partnership with
concerned institutions and stakeholders, further enabling
settlers to actively participate in housing resettlement projects and resolve
community action problems among members and coordination problems with
government and other entities. (Patino2016)
For an
Architect-Designer, Informal Settlers are considered as one of the most
delicate “CLIENT” to handle. Identification of their income to their capacity
to pay amortization to a housing provided by any sponsoring agent is figured after
a demographic and economic survey.
This writer who is on
an MS Architecture, major in Environmental Psychology Tract is inspired,
knowing that in an Urban Informality
Re-housing and the ISF as client may
have a unique personal character as individuals and as a group in as much as
their behavior and response to an architectural space provided is differently
challenging compared to designing to a family outside these danger zones. The
definition of privacy in these residential space for them maybe can be dynamic and each area, especially the common
areas shall be carefully designed to
motivate habit formation or behavior formation.
Other than access to
healthcare and sanitation, this
ISF’s perception to territoriality,
personal space and crowding and their responses
to the environment are complex and best
understood in terms of three psychological stages of human
behavior: perception, cognition, and spatial behavior. Property
and land tenure rights in the Philippines are covered by the New Civil Code of
1950. This system makes it very difficult for squatters or informal settlers to
obtain tenure security. Under this law, tenure security is largely defined in
terms of land ownership proven by possession of a formally registered title.
Thus, people squatting on public or private lands do not have any right at all
to occupy the land and to enjoy whatever benefits are derived from such
occupation. (Porio2014) To improve security of tenure for the urban
poor, three key approaches have been employed, namely, resettlement, slum
upgrading and mortgage financing—all designed to give informal settlers
ownership of their house and plot. (Porio2014)
The political will and the seriousness
of the government to pursue the ISF housing programme (or ISF housing
fund) which refers to the P50-billion Alternative Housing Programme and
People’s Plan for ISFs living in danger areas in the NCR. (Patino2016) as one
strong move of the Aquino Administration can be one key towards this goal.
The built environment provides the
setting by which we live our lives, and impacts on our senses, our emotions,
participation in physical activity and community life, our sense of community
and general well-being. ( Butterworth 2000).
Thorough examination
of the background of the problem and careful planning is made perfect thru wise
implementation. All these aspects when properly exercised is expected to
produce an answer to one of the basic
human needs – SHELTER in its most compassionate character.
An Introspection in line with Environmental Psychology ...
Arch Ma. Elena E. Lamasan
