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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