21% of Metro Manila residents are squatters
October 19, 2009
If the report of the Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee on Informal Settlers (MMIAC) is to be believed, one out of every five residents in Metro Manila is a squatter.
The Inquirer quoted a report of the MMIAC saying that there are more than 544,609 households of informal settlers in Metro Manila, representing 21% of the total 2.6 million households population.
Shelter program for squatters
The MMIAC is a committee tasked by Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2007 to provide a shelter program to squatters or informal settlers.
It is composed of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), National Housing Authority (NHA), local government units, the Urban Poor Affairs Office, Housing and Urban Development and Coordinating Council, Presidential Commission on Urban Poor, Office of the Undersecretary for Religious Affairs, Commission on Human rights, Caritas Manila representing the Catholic Church, and other government agencies.
Socialized housing in resettlement areas
According to the MMIAC, the Philippine government would need around P3.2 billion every year for the next 10 years to provide socialized housing units to informal settlers.
The government has already started offering off-site, off-city resettlement areas where squatters are relocated and provided with their own house and lot properties. The government initially covers the costs and recovers these through cheap monthly amortization ranging from P300 to P1,000.
The squatters problem in the Philippines has been a perennial problem since time immemorial. How do you think this can be solved?
Survey: What should the Philippine government do regarding squatting?
Answer our survey question below or post a comment to explain your answer. Who knows, if someone from the government sees your suggestions, they might implement it and hopefully this can help solve the problem of squatting in the country.
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October 20th, 2009 at %I:%M %p
A Luzon rail system would be the final solution. This is the organic solution to Manila’s burgeoning population problem.
October 20th, 2009 at %I:%M %p
i think the best solution to metro manila’s squatters problem is to elect bayani fernando for president. period.
UFC 104 Online Streaming´s latest blog ..Shogun KO’s Lidell Fight Video
October 20th, 2009 at %I:%M %p
@UFC 104 Online Streaming, if not president then maybe vice president. hehe.
Richest Woman´s latest blog ..Richest Woman in the World
October 22nd, 2009 at %I:%M %p
Aside from electing BF, I would also suggest that there really be a sustained campaign to teach financial literacy at the grassroots level… give everyone a fighting chance to have the means to acquire their own homes…
Jay Castillo´s latest blog ..My Dad is a broke OFW (An open letter to all OFW’s)
October 24th, 2009 at %I:%M %p
I agree with sir Jay, it all must start in the grassroots. Teach them how to be financially stable so that they can support themselves when they are relocated to another place. If the government can provide them jobs, well and good. Just like what Roosevelt did during the Great Depression, the govt may hire them and give them jobs on improving infrustructures and roads, for example.
CarloBlogg Online 3.0´s latest blog ..Free Pumpkin Carving Patterns for the Halloween season.
October 28th, 2009 at %I:%M %p
that seems to be a good idea but unfortunately, our government wouldn’t do that because instead of paying those people to work, they’d just put the money into their pockets and give those financially poor people some of their loose change. and besides, election is drawing near, so I think giving instant alms or cash would be most beneficial to their(Govt) agenda. anyway, most of the Filipino nowadays always opt for easy money/easy living, specially those in the poor brackets, that’s why robbery, hold up, and all sorts of crimes related to poverty is so rampant these days In my Humble opinion.
October 28th, 2009 at %I:%M %p
fix the railway system, relocate them to an area accessible by train. an elegant solution indeed