House alteration has grown rapidly and the process involves human activities. Investigation through observations and interviews to residences housing contractors and neighbors at three low cost housing schemes in Shah Alam,  Malaysia showed the construction activities or materials used caused problems and risk affecting social health and the  environment. Despite the presence of health and safety requirements, there remains significant scope for improvement of a house. This study is about the housing situation of the urban poor in Navetas in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The development in Manila is unsustainable, 13 million people live in an already congested area and people from provinces move there to pursue jobs and the promise of a better life. These people often end up on the streets or in slum areas. The area we have been studying is located in Navetas, a municipality in Metro Manila. It was once a fish pond of clay and silt. Presently, it is being reclaimed to make way for a residential development by the government to accommodate families affected by natural disasters or demolition. At present there are 198 families in 176 structures living there with different backgrounds coming from different parts of Metro Manila. Sanagmana is the community-based organization of the people who chose to live in the fish ponds of Tanza in Navotas after they were demolished. The area occupied by Sanagmana is owned by a private landowner. The organization signed a memorandum of agreement with the landowner and the residents are currently paying the land amortization on a regular monthly basis.