Community-based approaches to settlement upgrading as manifested through the big ACCA projects in Metro Manila, Philippines
Introduction:
This paper discusses community-based settlement upgrading approaches in three areas of Metro Manila, undertaken as part of the Asian Coalition for Community Action’s three-year programme with the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights. The aim of this programme is to stimulate a shift from government or donor-led development to people-centred solutions through a scaling up of the community-led upgrading processes in Asian cities. The main tools used to achieve this goal are networking activities and financial support, delivered to the communities through ACCA loans (ranging from US$ 3,000 loans for small projects up to US$ 40,000−60,000 for big ones).
The design of the ACCA programme minimizes the external pressure on communities in terms of the project concept and how the money is used. Communities have to meet some minimum requirements but the settlement upgrading process is planned, facilitated and executed by the people themselves, who take over the upgrading process from external actors.
Shifts Towards Decentralization Development In The Philippines: The Local Government Code And The Urban Development And Housing Act:
The 1987 Constitution formulated after the People’s Power Revolution and the collapse of the Marcos regime was a milestone in the Philippines. Its main principles were the autonomy of local governments and the participation of community-based settlement upgrading and people’s organizations in decision-making at all levels of social, political and economic life. This philosophy was reflected in formal documents dealing with governance and urban development, and primary among them was the Local Government Code (LGC), which was formulated in 1991 and focused on the accountability of local officials and bureaucrats, the collection of local taxes and the improvement of public services and general welfare.
The LGC boosted decentralization, increased the autonomy of local government units (LGUs) and reinforced the power of communities/people’s organizations and NGOs. National agencies and offices were obliged to conduct periodic consultations with appropriate LGUs, NGOs and people’s organizations, and other concerned sectors of the community before any project or programme could be implemented. In addition, the capabilities of LGUs or barangays to participate and implement national programmes were enhanced.
Struggles over land property rights and settlement upgrading in Quezon City:
The context of the settlement upgrading in Commonwealth and Batasan in Quezon City resembles that of many communities in Metro Manila. Most of the communities taking part in the ACCA programme in Quezon City are settled in an area that was originally planned for government buildings as part of the National Government Centre. However, only some government buildings were constructed and people occupied the rest of the vacant land from 1970 onwards.
Since then, there has been a dispute over the land property rights. The government threatened eviction, while residents engaged in political rallies for secure tenure and development of the site as a housing area. In 1987, the conflict resulted in Proclamation No 137, issued by President Corazon C Aquino, devoting part of the land to the urban poor. In 2003, the National Government Centre Housing and Land Utilization Act, signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, placed the area formally into the people’s hands.
Conclusion:
The community organizations described in this paper share several elements in common. Most importantly, many of their organizational features were in place before the commencement of the ACCA projects. ACCA was able to build on existing experiences to try to link them through a wider network. Community-based approaches, as characterized by the efforts described here, share the following features:
•• incremental development.
•• community savings groups.
•• participatory settlement design.
•• engagement in different networks of community organizations.
•• engagement with different donors.
•• co-production of the settlement with the government.