COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD IN PHILIPPINE SETTING

The term neighborhood has many meanings and uses. For example, neighborhood can be used
to refer to an area where people live and interact with one another. Neighborhoods tend to have their
own identity, or "feel" based on the people who live there and the places nearby. Residents may have
similar types of families, incomes, and education level. Neighborhoods can include restaurants,
bookstores, and parks.

Neighborhood is also used to describe an area surrounding a local institution patronized by

residents, such as a church, school, or social agency. The concept of neighborhood includes both
geographic (place–oriented) and social (people–oriented) components.

When community facilities, such as schools and sport and recreation facilities, are all located
near to homes and each other - and ideally within cycling or walking distance - it enhances
opportunities for physical activity, wellbeing, sports participation, community interaction and social
cohesion

Community development is the process of empowering communities, particularly housing

development beneficiaries, through social preparation and participatory planning, development and
implementation of programs, projects and activities that will enable the community to be self-reliant
and attain a better quality of life.

GOVERNING LAWS ON PHILIPPINE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD

OR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS TO GOVERN SECTION 18 OF

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7279 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND
HOUSING ACT OF 1992

Pursuant to Article III Section 6 and Article V, Section 18. Balanced Housing Development
of RA 7279. the following Rules and Regulations are hereby promulgated by the Board.

BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 220

An Act Authorizing the Ministry of Human Settlements to Establish and Promulgate

Different Levels of Standards and Technical Requirements for Economic and Socialized Housing
Projects in Urban and Rural Areas from Those Provided Under Presidential Decrees Numbered Nine
Hundred Fifty-Seven, Twelve Hundred Sixteen, Ten Hundred Ninety-Six and Eleven Hundred
Eighty-Five

REVISED RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING THE SUBDIVISION AND

CONDOMINIUM BUYER'S PROTECTIVE DECREE (PD 957) AND OTHER RELATED
LAWS

Pursuant to Article IV Section 5 c) of Executive Order No. 648 the following rules are hereby
promulgated by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) to implement Presidential
Decree Nos. 957, 1216, 1344 and other related laws applicable to open market and medium cost
subdivision and condominium projects.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11201

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9653

RENT CONTROL ACT (2009)

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9397

DISPOSITION OF LAND FOR SOCIALIZED HOUSING (2006)

REQUIRED FACILITIES IN A COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD

Sites for community facilities shall be reserved or allocated by the developer, where such facilities
may be constructed/put up the Homeowners Association as the need arises. Said sites shall be used
exclusively for these facilities, and the area shall be exclusive of that area intended for
park/playground.

Mandatory provision of area for neighborhood multi-purpose center both for economic and socialized
housing projects with a gross area of 1 hectare and above. These areas are non-saleable. However, the
developer may provide for areas for community facilities such as schools and convenience/retail
centers more than the requirement set forth in this Rule which shall be deemed saleable. The use of
the said area shall be indicated in the plan and annotated in the title thereto. (Refer to Table 2)

Community facilities shall be strategically located and easily accessible where they can serve a
maximum number of populations, preferably near or side by side by park/playground. The area
allocated for community facilities shall vary with the density of the subdivision, i.e., number of lots
and/or living units whichever is applicable, as shown below:

STATISTICS ON DIFFERENT SOCIAL CLASSIFICATION OF FILIPINO FAMILIES

Three primary social classes exist in the Philippines: the low-income class, the middle-income class,
and the high-income class.
The latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows
that majority (58.4%) of Filipinos belong to the low-income class, while the middle class comprises
around 40% of the population. Only 1.4% fall in the high-income class.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the government’s socio-economic policy
think tank, notes that the low-income class has a bigger share of the population because they tend to
have larger families than other social classes.

The middle class is further classified into lower, middle, and upper middle-income classes.

In between the poor and the middle class is another social class called the low-income class—they’re
not middle class but not considered poor.

And then there’s the upper-income class in between the middle class and the rich. Although people in
this social class make six-digit figures monthly, they’re not considered among the elite group of the
wealthiest in the Philippines.

For policy-making and public service purposes, the Philippine government looks at the per capita
income (in relation to the poverty threshold) to classify the income level of its citizens and to assess
their standard of living.
RELATED LITERATURES

The Benefits of Living in a Subdivision or Gated Community

Safety and privacy

The main benefit of living in a subdivision is the idea that you have a heightened sense of protection,
which is a big deal especially for those with children. You want to ensure that your kids grow up in a
safe environment, which means raising them in a community with a perimeter fence, 24-hour security,
and a guarded post that keeps outsiders from entering and roaming around your neighborhood. Some
subdivisions go the extra mile by installing CCTV cameras to monitor everyone’s comings and
goings.

Peace and quiet

People who live in condos and houses outside a subdivision have to contend with the sounds of rush
hour traffic, hordes of employees going to and from work, and crowds milling around malls and
restaurants, an unfortunate downside to living close to everything that matters. Sometimes, traffic gets
so bad that the noise reaches you even as you settle in for the night.

On the other hand, subdivisions are often built far away from major thoroughfares, many even at the
fringes of Metro Manila. By distancing itself from the hustle and bustle, a subdivision can bring its
residents relief from the unbearable noise that comes with city living.

Sense of community

Living in a subdivision, you encounter the same people day in and day out, so it’s hard not to develop
a level of understanding, even friendship, with them. This is particularly true when you move into a
subdivision designed for a particular market, whether it is for young couples, start-up families, or
foreign retirees. Once you move in, you might meet a couple with a child the same age as yours, or
another resident who you can share gardening tips with, or someone who likes classic cars as much as
you do. When you find a common ground with your neighbor, it’s more likely that you develop a
certain relationship with them.

It is also common that these communities have a homeowners’ association that organizes events like
Christmas parties or charity drives for all the residents. Attending and participating in these increases
your opportunity to interact with and form bonds with other people in the neighborhood.

Accessible amenities

Developers know the importance of creating a community that is not just a place to go home to, but a
sanctuary where one can have a well-rounded lifestyle. This is why incorporating amenities is a given;
it is important to offer convenience, so residents won’t have to travel far from home for some R&R or
to run errands.

These days, there is hardly a subdivision without a basketball court or a swimming pool. A clubhouse
also has as a function hall where celebrations are held, and gazebos are set up where residents can
enjoy early mornings or late afternoons. Small parks have picnic sites for family barbecues and
playgrounds for active kids. In some cases, there is even a commercial center where you can find
establishments like mini-groceries, laundromats, and cafés.

Cleaner environment

Living right where the action is also means being among pollutants, such as smoke-belching vehicles
and establishments, as well as pedestrians who choose to light up in public places. But as mentioned,
subdivisions are often found far from major thoroughfares and city hubs, ensuring that residents are
not constantly exposed to air pollution. Some gated communities also have pocket parks, and the
presence of trees and shrubs in these green open spaces ensure that you are constantly breathing clean
air.

Better home value

Traditional families are often inclined to raise their kids in a house in a nice neighborhood. If you are
purchasing a home with the intention of selling it later on, you will find it easier to find a buyer,
especially if you pick a subdivision in one of the most family-friendly cities of the country. Also,
when a subdivision is located close to a zone that is being developed, it often increases the value of
the home so you can sell it for a nice amount of money.
REFERENCES

Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (2009). Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations for
PD 957. p 6-26

Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (2008). Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations for
BP 220. p 1-23

Zoleta, V. (2020). Understanding Social Class in the Philippines: Which Class Do You Belong to?.
Retrieved from https://www.moneymax.ph/personal-finance/articles/social-class-philippines

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/neighborhood/

(2020). The Benefits of Living in a Subdivision or Gated Community. Retrieved from

https://www.myproperty.ph/journal/2019/02/13/the-benefits-of-living-in-a-subdivision-or-gated-
community/