Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City

Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2

1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Context

1.1.1 Background of the Study

More than half of the world's population has resided in the cities since 2007. Cities and

urban regions contribute nearly 60 percent of global GDP. They do account for about 70 percent

of global carbon emissions, and about 60 percent of resource consumption. One hundred fifty

countries developed regional development policies, and nearly half of them were in the

implementation process. They plan to help towns grow more competitively and sustainably

(United Nations, 2020).

In Asia-pacific, the population of 4.3 billion is increasingly urbanizing and the countries

are struggling to keep up with housing demand. Addressing tenure security is an excellent entry

point for solving the urban slum housing problem. Urbanization does not pose a challenge but an

economic growth potential (Parry, 2015).

In the Philippines, dominant types of illegal settlements are slums and squatter settlement.

Land is very small and scarcer urban property. Land access is one of the toughest factors for urban

poor. Informal communities are rising mainly along beaches, riverbanks and creeks, in empty

government lands (Pampanga, Majid, & Angel, 2015).

Informal Philippine settlements have become a trend connected to big cities and developing

urban centres. Estimates of the country's numbers of unauthorized settlers have ranged, varying
 Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

from as little as 470,000 families to as much as 2.5 million. Global surveys estimate that about 30

percent to 60 percent of the developed world's urban population reside in informal settlements.

Low wages, impractical and insufficient urban planning, lack of serviced land and a fragmented

legal system can be traced to the pervasiveness of informal settlements. In Metro Manila, Cebu,

Davao and other developing urban centers, informal settlements contrasts markedly with the gated

and exclusive communities occupied by the wealthy. Informal immigrants reside in slums that do

not satisfy the most essential requirements, or are used as disposal grounds for hazardous waste,

and are sometimes vulnerable to serious health hazards on an ongoing basis. To better assess the

extent and severity of the issue, the Philippines needs a more reliable and up-to-date system to

estimate the number and location of informal settler families (HUDCC, 2014).

1.1.2 Statement of the Problem

Data provided by Davao City's City Planning Office reveals more than 130 informal settler

clusters are in the city. Among the 209,187 single homes, only about half are constructed on

property purchased or actually amortized by their respective inhabitants. The people experiencing

the greatest risk of displacement are all residing under the "Rent-free without the (land) owner's

permission" system. There are 14,815 families live under this arrangement and may increase to

47,927 if the number of residential duplex houses and multi-unit housing buildings were taken into

account. There are almost 65,000 families, or the equivalent of 340,000 people, accounting for

almost one third of the population (Acioly Jr. & Payot, 2005).

With all the information gathered the researcher aims to answer the following questions:
Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

1.1.2.1 Goals and Research Objectives

Goals:

The primary goal of this research is to learn what the factors that

result to informal settlement are. It also aims to know the best location and

type of relocation for them, avoiding these families from returning to their

unsuitable areas.

Objectives:

• To assess the factors needed to consider when planning a

resettlement area for informal settler families in Davao City.

• To identify the reasons of unsuccessful resettlement areas and learn

the more feasible way to resettle the ISFs.

• To identify the most efficient type of resettlement area for ISFs.

• To address the proliferation of ISFs in Davao City especially in the

downtown area.

1.1.2.2 Research Questions

• What type of housing relocation for informal settlers is feasible to

cater them?

• What are the factors to consider in relocating the informal settler

families?
 Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

• What are the reasons why informal settlements are increasing?

1.1.3 Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework below elaborates on the variables that cause

unsuccessful informal settlements in order to address the continuous proliferation of ISFs.

It also shows the elements and factors that make a resettlement successful and its

application to the design.

Informal Settlements

Factors for Unsuccessful Identify Efficient Type of

Resettlements Resettlement

Address the Factors that Apply Feasible Elements

Causes Continuous and Consider Careful
Proliferation of ISFs Planning of Resettlements

Resettlement for Informal

Settler Families

Figure 1. Theoretical Framework

 Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

1.1.4 Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework shows the data necessary for the research. The

framework elaborates on what data should gather in studying efficient ways for housing

solution for informal settler families.

Informal Settlements

Factors for Unsuccessful Identify Efficient Type of

Resettlements Resettlement

Resettlement for Informal

Settler Families

Figure 2. Conceptual Framework

 Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.2 Review of Related Literature

2.2.1 Informal Settlements

Much urbanization in Africa and Asia would arise, with India , China and Nigeria

responsible for one-third of all urban population increase. The economic poor and informal

communities often referred to as slums, have developed exponentially in urbanisation. A

staggering 32 per cent of the metropolitan population worldwide resides in slums that may

exceed 889 million by 2030. According to the U.N. slum communities require land rights

and access to clean water and sanitation to secure their lives, health and education. The

land area occupied by developing towns is projected to develop at around twice the

population rate (EMBARQNetwork, 2020).

2.2.2 Improving Informal Settlements

2.2.2.1 Recognizing informal property rights

Within an informal settlement a single arrangement will be the location of half a

dozen formal and informal property rights. Titling, or granting legal rights to a single plot

of land, is one means of offering formal property rights to informal inhabitants. Titling will

enable people to spend and deter opportunistic applicants in their society. Many programs

merge issuing fixed term names, such as ten years, with infrastructure upgrades. The Slum
Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

Networking Project in Ahmedabad, India blends product names with improvements to

facilities and eviction bans (EMBARQNetwork, 2020).

2.2.2.2 Using an inclusive approach to land improvement

Titling can enable residents to invest in their neighborhood and discourage

opportunistic claimants. Any programs merge the issuing of fixed term terms, such as 10

years, with infrastructure upgrades. The Slum Networking Initiative in Ahmedabad, India,

blends product names with updates to facilities and eviction bans (EMBARQNetwork,

2020).

2.2.2.3 Resettle residents or informal settlements when necessary

Governments may need to resettle informal settlements in certain situations, for

example when informal settlements are prone to floods or other environmental hazards. If

relocation is necessary, communities must give sufficient notice to residents, include

residents in planning decisions and provide equal compensation for informal owners of

property rights (EMBARQNetwork, 2020).

 Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This section describes the study, the development of the studies, the conduct of the research

and the analysis of information gathered from the studies.

3.1 Methodology

3.1.1 Research Design

This study is qualitative research, investigating the factors of unsuccessful resettlement

and identifying the most efficient type of resettlement area. It includes collecting

comprehensive data from the informal settler families and analyzing the information gathered.

A step guide will be used to identify the necessary actions needed to be done.
Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

Figure 3. Step Guide

Ref: https://guidance.miningwithprinciples.com/community-development-toolkit/tool-18-

resettlement-planning/

3.1.2 Research Locale

The researcher has chosen Barangay Bucana in Davao City. According to the

Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the City Government of Davao, the Poblacion is

primarily characterized by vertical expansion with commercial and residential land use of

higher density will continue to exist. Population surveys of 2000 and 2010 indicate the

Central Business District and the adjacent coastal barangays are the most densely populated

areas. The Poblacion itself, based on the 2010 enumeration, has a total population of

156,450 or 10.79 per cent of the total population of region. In 2022 the area is estimated to

have 1.925 million inhabitants. This is expected the doubling time will arrive in 30 years.

As with most highly urbanized cities across the Philippines, the population of the city is

concentrated in its urban areas. Davao City has been growing rapidly over regional

population growth (1.97%) and national population growth (2.04%) since the 2010

Population Census and has the largest population in the South Mindanao, that is

(Comprehensive Land Use Plan (2013-2022)).

Barangay Bucana in the Poblacion District area is the most populous barangay

among the 182 barangays.Davao City's population exceeded 1,449,296 in the 2010

Population Census. To Relieving the ill effects of rapid urbanization, such as traffic

congestion, urban blight, informal settlements, unrestrained population growth that may
Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

lead to the breakdown of services, the development of the Central Business District must

be rationally dispersed with adjacent and outlying urban centres. The proposal therefore

effectively calls for a policy of urban growth to solve these problems. It can be done by the

fair allocation of resources, business operations, incentives and public facilities throughout

the region (Comprehensive Land Use Plan (2013-2022)).

Figur4. Satellite map view of Barangay Bucana, Davao City

Ref: google.com/maps
Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

3.1.3 Research Instrument

3.1.3.1 Primary Data

2.3.1.1 Interviews

The researcher will interview the Barangay center in Barangay Bucana in Davao

City to gather information on the residents living there especially the informal

settler families. He may also do a focus group discussion with the selected informal

settler families to better gather important and first-hand data.

2.3.1.2 Ocular Inspection

The researcher will inspect the current situation of the informal settler families in

the site. Thoroughly investigate their conditions, its impact on their living, and list

things needed to be improved.

 Resettlement Area for Informal Settlers Families of Barangay Bucana in Davao City
Jerilon B. Luntad1 and Nurvin Zary Bustillo2
1
Student, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines
2
Professor, College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education, University of Mindanao, Philippines

Bibliography

Acioly Jr., C., & Payot, J. (2005). Davao: building channels of participation and the . Davao:

Institute of Housing and Urban Development Studies.

Comprehensive Land Use Plan (2013-2022). (n.d.). Davao City, Philippines.

EMBARQNetwork. (2020). Upgrading Informal Settlements in an Urbanizing World. Retrieved
July 20, 2020, from SMARTCITIESDIVE:
https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/upgrading-informal-
settlements-urbanizing-world/333291/
HUDCC. (2014). Developing a National Informal Settlements . Davao City.

Pampanga, D., Majid, R., & Angel, C. (2015). Assessing the Compliance of Balanced Housing

Policy in the Philippines: The Case of Davao City. International Journal Of Built

Environment And Sustainability, 93-100.

Parry, J. (2015, September). Retrieved July 1, 2020, from Habitat for Humanity:

https://gsdrc.org/topic-guides/urban-governance/key-policy-challenges/informal-

settlements/

UN. (2020). Retrieved July 1, 2020, from United Nations:

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2019/goal-11/