Living on Water: the SANAGMANA Challenge
An urban planner examines the viability of housing on stilts as a resettlement option for an urban poor community in Navotas
By Eloisa M. Pilapil
The Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Maralita ng Navotas(SANAGMANA) (Federation of the United Urban Poor Organizations in Navotas) is a federation of a community of informal settlers who live in the coastal and flood-prone municipality of Navotas located along Manila Bay. SANAGMANA is comprised of four subgroups: Sitio Mandaragat, Kapit-Bisig San Nazareno R-10, Sipac Almacen, and Little Samar.
A number of SANAGMANA households, especially those coming from Sitio Mandaragat, were relocated to Towerville, Bulacan in 2004 because their housing sites were affected by the ongoing CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela) Area Flood Control and Drainage System Improvement project, the construction of a polder dike and road widening projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). But some communities refused to relocate to Bulacan and instead looked for an alternative site within Navotas. In 2005, with the help of Community Organizing in the Philippines Enterprise (COPE), the Urban Poor Ministry (UPM), a Catholic church-based organization, technical professionals from TAO-Pilipinas, Planning Resources and Operations Systems (PROS), AMH Engineers, and SEASTEMS (an environmental impact assessment group), they sought the attention of the Housing and Urban Development Council (HUDCC) about their plight.
Housing on stilts
The technical professionals involved in the project proposed housing on stilts (HOS) on water as a possible solution. HOS is an alternative scheme of housing the urban poor or informal settlers (such as the members of SANAGMANA) who live along coastal areas, riverbanks and waterways particularly within cities. Although these areas are considered danger zones, mitigating measures and proper planning intervention can ensure the safety of HOS settlements.
HOS on water is envisioned as a relocation site integrated with marine-based livelihood on unproductive fish farms, coasts, and areas prone to flooding. It is designed as a planned community equipped with the features of land-based communities, such as composting and wastewater treatment, paths, and open spaces. In the case of the planned HOS for SANAGMANA, maintaining the present flow of water from the site– which is a fishpond — to Manila Bay is a prime consideration.
What specific problems and prospects confront SANAGMANA in realizing this housing dream? There are many problems but also bright prospects, as well. Below are two of the more significant problems.
HOS as a housing scheme for SANAGMANA is a challenge both to the community organization and those planning the HOS.
Problems
First, the existing government framework does not consider the development of settlements on water as an option. Existing government measures to relocate the informal settlers especially in cities are replete with problems and failures, particularly on the provision of security of tenure. What more with such a scheme such as HOS on water; where policies and laws related to housing and settlements on marshy lands, riverbanks, or seashores are few, unclear, if not non-existent. A pilot experiment on the current HOS initiative can convince policymakers of the value of incorporating housing on water into Philippine policies and laws. Without a policy framework, housing on water will remain illegal, and we will lose an important opportunity to provide a more sustainable solution to problems confronting our water-based or coastal communities.
Second is the problem of funding. Based on the SANAGMANA socio-economic profile, the reported incomes of the households indicate that 28.5% (National Statistical Coordination Board standard) are below the poverty threshold. If the IBON (an independent research think tank) facts and figures on daily cost of living were followed, a much larger 78% fall below the poverty threshold. Households also reported no savings with high expense for extras. These reflect their poverty status. Therefore the affordability of the proposed housing scheme is crucial. With the present government schemes for housing the poor; SANAGMANA will not stand a chance at housing, much less an HOS on water scheme. SANAGMANA can avail of a Community Mortgage Program (CMP) from the government to get financial assistance. But CMP at present is a facility extended only for housing on land. A strong community organization assisted by non-government organizations and the private sector would be important in harnessing community efforts to successfully avail of the CMP.
Prospects
HOS as a housing scheme for SANAGMANA is a challenge both to the community organization and those planning the HOS. While the technology is available, the priority of the urban poor is clearly their social needs. Can they afford it? What schemes are there to help them in the problem of affordability? How do we address the problem of security of tenure? The importance of professional planning intervention is beyond doubt. It can become a meaningful tool in systematizing knowledge for the urban poor’s understanding of the housing process. Key to this is a multi-disciplinary team of planners familiar with community organizing and imbued with commitment and patience in building consensus. Accommodating populations in a sensitive environment such as coastal areas is a radical option. But with proper planning, adequate social preparation, the support and cooperation of government, local government, non-government organizations, the church and the private sector, this choice is possible.
About the Author
Eloisa M. Pilapil, Ph.D. is Vice-President of the Board of Directors of TAO-Pilipinas and is currently Project Manager of the Economic Policy Reform and Advocacy (EPRA) Project of the Ateneo de Manila University, a cooperative grant under the USAID.
Community Feature, Housing Approaches | rp | 17 September 2007 |
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By Erlyn Nacion, October 30, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
I heard some problem of SANAGMANA residence and i just want to ask whom will i talk about this matter?
Thank you and God bless you!!!!
By edra belga, October 31, 2007 @ 10:20 am
First, we need to know what specifically you want know or discuss about SANAGMANA. Please give us a background on the issues you would want to be discussed. Please make the request formal, and send it to arlene.lusterio@gmail.com, address it to Arch./EnP. Arlene Christy D. Lusterio (Executive Director, TAO-Pilipinas, Inc.)
By Armando Cruz Jr., June 20, 2008 @ 9:35 am
I think, what you have mentioned earlier, because of what we call poverty especially here in Luzon, where the population is too much heavy, therefore the House on Stilts will be possible. This HOS will be the alternative solution on housing project for the poor people.
By Assisted Community Living, January 7, 2010 @ 4:28 pm
I like it – good article, good information, Enjoyed your post greatly! Great write up! Need more like it! Wish to hear more like this! Your article was very interesting. Thank You.