Building Safe and Secure Communities
Introduction:
The quality of shelter and the kind of secure communities where people live can be both a source of vulnerability and a means to enhance development opportunities and improve human development outcomes. The government recognizes the importance of building and expanding people’s access to safe and secure shelter in well-planned communities. Housing has become even more significant given that, based on the results of a national survey for AmBisyon Natin 2040, it is among the aspirations of most Filipinos. Moreover, housing and urban development become increasingly important as the economy grows, attracting people to urban areas where the opportunities are found. If not managed well, urbanization can pose risks to health, life, and property and compound natural hazards that cause disasters.
Assessment and Challenges:
Under the 1987 Constitution, “the State shall, by law, and for the common good, undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a continuing program of urban land reform and housing which will make available at affordable cost, decent housing and basic services to underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettlement areas.”
Achievements in terms of building shelters were dampened by the destruction caused by weather-related disasters and by increased demand. For the period 2011-2016, the National Shelter Program (NSP) delivered direct housing assistance to more than 730,000 households. This is supposed to correspond to an accomplishment rate of 83 percent; however, the number includes the housing units constructed after super typhoon Yolanda and the Bohol earthquake, which were not part of the original target. This in effect overstated the accomplishment rate because the target was not increased to factor in additional demand from households whose structures were damaged or completely destroyed.
Develop integrated neighborhoods and secure communities particularly for low-income households:
The government will implement the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) which seeks to address the challenges of agglomeration economies, connectivity, and vulnerability. Under the NSS, the growth and development of urban centers and human settlements will proceed in a rational and sustainable manner, with the convergence of efforts of various sectors. This is to ensure that housing and auxiliary services and needs of resettled ISFs are adequately satisfied. The physical infrastructure of housing and location of human settlements must also ensure compliance with disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) requirements to mitigate risks and address vulnerability.
Adopt a community-driven development (CDD) approach in shelter provision towards safe and secure communities:
A gender-responsive CDD (“peoples’ plan”) approach will be promoted to involve the beneficiaries in the entire development process. Such an approach will help increase occupancy rates and efficiency in the collection of housing loan amortization, improve estate management, and ensure inclusive access to and control of housing and human settlement services and benefits.
Mainstream program convergence budgeting in housing and resettlement, and innovative housing finance modalities:
A programmatic and convergent approach to planning and budgeting for housing and resettlement interventions will be institutionalized in the national budget process. This will ensure that the budgetary requirements of agencies are identified early in the budget planning process for social preparation, provision of shelter, utilities, infrastructure, community facilities, livelihood opportunities, and social enterprise.
Conclusion:
Strengthen housing as a platform to reduce poverty and improve social outcomes. Housing programs will be linked with other social development programs. It will help maximize the “multiplier effect” of the provision of housing units as a means to reduce poverty, generate jobs and employment, and spur downstream economic activities.
To complement the strategies, legislative action will be sought in support of the goal of building safe and secure shelter in well-planned communities.