Housing Provision and Sustainability Research Papers (original) (raw)

Rationale
The issues and problems on informal settlements are connected with other social concerns such as poverty, population growth, urban migration, urban planning problems, inefficiency of local government systems, weak organizational structures and problems of land access and use. This problem is evident within the University of the Philippines (UP) main campus in Diliman, as well as in many parts of Metropolitan Manila and other urban centers near the metro (Santiago, 1992). In 2007, NHA estimated the population of informal settlements to around 544,709 persons in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone – accounting to 4.6% of the NCR’s total population – while UP Diliman contributes 13.77% to NCR’s population of informal settlements (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2013 July 26). As of December 2011, at least 15,500 households have been revealed to be living in self-built units (SBU’s) within the campus that were constructed without the consent or permit from the university, outnumbering the mandated stakeholders (UP faculty and staff) living within UP Diliman campus (Office of the Chancellor, 2012 March 4).
Land is available for other functional infrastructure and more facilities for University of the Philippines, but the administration is unable to grapple the sprawl of informal settlements as it gets even with the lot area acquired by the university facilities. The problem can also be viewed as an after effect of World War II. During this time, there has been an extensive destruction of residential structures and shelters that resulted to a shortage of housing. Programs for campus housing was not the primary concern then of the University – probably due to the limitations in budget, long term processes in looking over rules and regulations, and its slow application and implementation to the University’s function as a learning institution (Villar et.al., undated). Housing issues on land owned either by private or the government should be addressed based on the different perspectives of the people, groups and organizations concerned. It doesn’t end on how to give provide the informal settlers a relocation but how sustainable and efficient housing projects are.
Through the years, there have been attempts to address the informal settlement problem of UP – but most of them, if not all, have failed to successfully solve it as evident in the presence of sprawling “squatter” areas within the campus. Although the local government of Quezon City, in cooperation with UP, had already established a task force that would supposedly look into this problem a few years ago, there is minimal or no progress on their part. However, a new possibility is under study by including another government agency that may help in the implementation of housing solutions within the UP Diliman campus.
The local government of Quezon City, as approved by the city council, may impose a city ordinance on regulating the building standard and methods of construction for housing projects by setting the minimum and maximum requirements as per the existing laws for housing: Batas Pambansa or BP 220 (socialized and economic housing), Presidential Decree or PD 957 (open market housing), and other pertinent laws and guidelines. As per public awareness and knowledge, UP is an autonomous “region” with its self-governing system and regulations. This characteristic will be taken advantage and taken consideration in setting up an agreement or MOA with the government. This agreement will be establishing a working relationship that will give the proposed program a positive approach.