Leodian Diadem D.

Mercurio, BS Arch 5-C September 28, 2022

1. What is Housing?
Housing serves a variety of essential human requirements, including shelter, personal property, safety, and
privacy. However, there is another definition of urban space that is based on the social characteristics of urban space and
refers to areas that exist in social life for various persons and interaction scenarios (Almusaed & Almssad, 2018). In general,
housing is the design and construction of residential units in which people can live in pleasant, pleasant, and healthy
surroundings with social, cultural, and recreational amenities (Tandon, 2017).
2. Characteristics of Housing in the Philippines
In the report of Bersales (2018), a Filipino statistician, under the Philippine Statistics Authority, they release the
results of the housing characteristics in the Philippines: (Results of 2015 Census of Population). In the report, it is stated
that the occupancy rate of the housing has reached a total of 92.57% of 24.22 million which is the total of housing units.
This meant that in over 100 occupied housing units there are 102 households residing. According to the census, the
building type that has the highest percentage of occupants is the single house which consists of the 80.7% of the
population followed by multi-unit residential housing which makes up 11.9%, following that is duplex housing with a total
of 7.1% and the remaining 0.2% is consists of other housing units.
Most of the housing units (49.2%) are built with an outer wall that is made up of either concrete, brick, or stones.
The major material that is used for the roof is either galvanized iron or aluminum with a percentage of 80.3%. Regarding
the tenure status of the housing and lot, 55.3% of the housing unit and a lot are owned, 21.4% is a rent-free lot with the
consent of the owner, 12.1% is a rent house/rooms that include the lot, the 5.9% is a rent-free house and lot with the
consent of the owner, 3.1% is own house rent and the remaining 2% is a self-owned house with a rent-free lot without
the consent of the owner. The fuel used for lighting is electricity, which is used by 88.5% of the total number of households.
The main source of water used for drinking is bottled water which consists of the 27.2% of the total households. The
community water system is the main source of water used by the 43.4 % for cooking.
3. Housing Problems/ Social Issues in the Philippines
Homelessness. The Philippines currently faces concerns surrounding homelessness. According to statistics, over
4.5 million Filipinos are homeless. National Housing Authority (NHA) and the National Economic Development (NEDA)
reported in 2017 that there are more than 1.5 million families that are considered as informal settlers (Bilken Corporation,
2020).
1 in 4 below the poverty line. Shelter requirements are being pushed by the country's expanding population,
poverty, and the occurrence of natural catastrophes. According to the National Statistical Coordination Board, 25.2% of
the population was classed as poor in 2012, a 1.1% decrease from 2009 (Semana, 2017).
Housing deficit and backlog. For several years, different government initiatives to address the issue of
homelessness in the country, yet issues such as housing deficit and backlog remains. This indicates that the target number
of housing projects still has not been met and this continues to create further problems in the future (Bilken Corporation,
2020).
Urbanization. The fast growth of the urban population creates a huge need for housing and tenure security.
However, with prohibitively costly lands and high rents in cities, coupled with stagnant real earnings, it is not uncommon
for cities to have large numbers of families living in various sorts of unlawful housing units with insecure tenure. The
spread of slums in Philippine cities is thus viewed as a coping strategy for city inhabitants whose salaries are too precarious
to afford land ownership (Lagman, 2011).
Frequent natural disasters. The Philippines is subjected to regular earthquake activity as well as around 20
typhoons every year, which damage lives, livelihoods, and houses. Furthermore, earthquakes and volcanic activity strike
the country on a regular basis, which contributes to the destruction of lives, disruption of livelihoods, and the loss of
homes. The incidence of calamities is yet another element contributing to people being displaced and homeless (Semana,
2017).
 Eviction of squatters. As stated by Lagman (2011), capitalist globalization has increased rivalry and the desire to
succeed. Redevelopment of land and the inner-city undergoing gentrification; these processes have been hastened by
government measures such as privatization of public land, repair of unsafe areas, and street beautification. People were
pushed to the streets if they were not awarded relocation lots to reside on, refused to transfer to the relocation sites,
returned to Manila from the relocation sites, or did not have a family with whom they could live (p.121)
Deadlock Policies. According to Lagman (2011), globalization has given birth to a financially strapped
government.Neoliberalism has hastened the developing world's financial catastrophe. As a result, policies concerning the
homeless became paralyzed: first, policies of job creation for the urban poor, particularly squatter inhabitants; second,
policies of securing relocation lots and the construction of houses for squatter inhabitants (compensation to those evicted
was only paid to some of the squatter inhabitants); and finally, policies of employment and welfare (p.122)
4. What is informal housing?
According to UN-Habitat (2003) and the United Nations (2014) definitions, informal settlements are dilapidated
"inner-urban settlements with substandard living conditions that, unlike informal or marginal settlements in peri-urban
or newly urbanized areas, were originally understood as an emergency accommodation in dilapidated parts of an existing
city.
Informal settlements are settlements with inadequate housing, a lack of facilities, overcrowding, and uncertain
tenancy or residential status. The general living conditions are deplorable, leading to health problems and crime. Slums
are more typically used to describe informal settlements (Cordes et al., 2021). According to Directorate (n.d.), informal
settlements are unplanned settlements and locations where housing is not in line with current planning and building laws.
It is also the areas where groups of housing units have been developed on property that the residents have no legal right
to or occupy illegally or simply called (unauthorized housing).
5. What are the different government agencies/ institutions in the Philippines that cater the delivery process of
housing?
Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. The HLURB, as the primary agency, assists local government units in
developing comprehensive land use plans, regulates housing, land development, and homeowners associations, and
adjudicates related matters. They are in charge of creating and implementing regulations governing land use, housing,
and homeowners associations in order to ensure the equitable distribution and enjoyment of development benefits
(Valencia, 2015).
National Housing Authority (NHA). Is the primary national organization tasked with producing housing for low-
income families. Some of their programs include resettlement programs for families affected by government
infrastructure projects and those living in dangerous areas, upgrading programs aimed at addressing the security of tenure
and infrastructural needs of informal settlements, housing programs for government employees, and housing assistance
for disaster victims (NHA, n.d.)
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). According to Valencia (2015), the Housing and
Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) is a government agency established by Executive Order No. 90 that
serves as the overall coordinator, initiator, and facilitator of all government policies, plans, and programs for the housing
sector; it determines strategies, formulates appropriate policies, monitors, and evaluates the programs.
Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC). The HGC facilitates the application for a guarantee line under Republic Act
No. 8763. It comprises establishing a financial institution's eligibility for the legislation's guaranty and incentives The HGC's
guarantee line to financial institutions is a facility that allows housing-related loans and financial transactions to be
guaranteed. According to Valencia (2015), this government agency's clients include banks, building and loan organizations,
investment houses, trust businesses, insurance companies, lending institutions, cooperatives, microfinance entities, and
housing developers.
Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF). Is also known as the Pag-IBIG Fund. The Pag-IBIG Fund was established
to offer a national savings program as well as affordable house financing to Filipino workers. The Fund offers its members
short-term financing and access to housing initiatives. According to Valencia (2015), it is necessary for all SSS and GSIS-
covered workers, uniformed officers of the AFP, BFP, BJMP, and PNP, and Filipinos working for foreign-based firms.
 REFERENCES

Almusaed, A., & Almssad, A. (2018, November 28). Introductory Chapter: Housing Policy Matters. Housing.
https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81622
Bersales, L.G. (2018, March 6) Housing Characteristics in the Philippines. Republic of the Philippines, Philippine Statistics
Authority. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/content/housing-characteristics-philippines-results-2015-census-
population
Bilken Corporation (2020) Housing Problems in the Philippines You Should Know About. Bilken Corporation. Retrieved
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