Buhay Sementeryo

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA
College of Arts and Sciences

Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila
BUHAY SEMENTERYO:
An Assessment and Comparison of the Living Conditions of Informal Settlers
in Three Public Cemeteries in Metro Manila
An Undergraduate Thesis Presented to the

Department of Social Sciences
University of the Philippines Manila
In Partial Fulfillment of the Course Requirements

In Development Studies 199.2 for the
Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies
Presented by:
Stacy Lou S. Rosales
2012-06040
BA Development Studies
Presented to:
Professor Ida Marie Pantig
Thesis Adviser
May 2016
University of the Philippines Manila
Padre Faura, Ermita, Manila
APPROVAL SHEET
This thesis, entitled BUHAY SEMENTERYO: An Assessment and

Comparison of the Living Conditions of Informal Settlers in Three Public
Cemeteries in Metro Manila, prepared and written by Stacy Lou S. Rosales, in partial
fulfillment of the requirements in Development Studies 199.2 for the Degree of Bachelor
in Arts in Development Studies, is hereby recommended for approval.
_________________________
Prof. Ida Marie Pantig, MPP
Thesis Adviser
This thesis is hereby accepted and approved as partial fulfillment for the
requirements for the Degree of Bachelor in Arts in Development Studies.
_________________________
Prof. Jerome Ong
Chairperson
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ABSTRACT
The rise of urbanization has brought about the rise of the number of informal
settlement in the cities. Poverty has remained to be one of the most prominent issues in
the country up to this day. People are forced to move into informal settlements because of
this. This issue is synonymous to the lack of housing or shelter caused by the congestion
of individuals/households in the cities. Such situation is often characterized by an
increased vulnerability to negative externalities, both natural and man-made, sub-par
living conditions, and the lack of access to basic resources.
Cemeteries and other kinds of informal settlements in general, are manifestations
of poverty; this study looks at the situation present in cemeteries which house the poor.
Three areas in Metro Manila were used as a case study in this research: Bagbag Cemetery
in Quezon City, Tugatog Cemetery in Malabon City, and the North Cemetery in Manila
City. Variables regarding basic social services and basic needs, ranging from
empowering, survival, and security needs, were used as indicators for this study, and their
perceptions of their situation were also taken into account in order to make light of the
situations these cemetery dwellers are currently living in.
The issue on poverty, as it is, is not just an economic or monetary problem, it is a
multi-dimensional one. Because of this, in observing the cases of people experiencing
poverty and in formulating policies and programs with regards to this, should be tackled
at all the sides of the spectrum. The government, as the primary institution and the
paramount agency that provides services to the public, should serve as the machine to
improve the quality of life and also the living conditions which are being experienced by
these informal settlers.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to give my thanks and express my heartfelt gratitude to the following people:
First is my thesis adviser, Professor Ida Marie Pantig, for her all out support and
guidance in the process of finishing this research, for her step-by-step supervision,
constructive criticisms or comments, and her informative power points which have really
helped me throughout the process of making my thesis.
My parents and my sister, Arianne, for their wholehearted support, both emotional
and financial, for me in the process of making and in finishing this thesis. They honestly
believed me more than I could ever believe myself in my life.
The people who helped me during my process of data gathering or in my field
work: Aling Lilay (Lily Santos Fernando), for helping me gather data from Tugatog
Cemetery in Malabon, and the North Cemetery in Manila; Kuya Choco (Lorenzo
Santiago), my cousin, for assisting me in my data gathering in Bagbag Cemetry, Quezon
City; and my grandmother, Lola Puring (Purificacion Santiago), for financing my food
and travel costs and for always looking out for me at the end of the day.
My friends in school, Hannah, Monday, Ara, Pat, Nina, Nichole and Cesar, for
being people who I could rely on talking to and asking advices for my thesis, and life in
general.
Also, to my respondents from the three cemeteries, for giving me the time and
having the patience to answer my surveys and my questions. I know that I was intruding
on their daily lives, but they were all still very kind and responsive to my inquiries.
Finally, I would like to thank God for guiding me at the process of making and in
finishing this thesis. This would not be possible without Him.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1
II. HYPOTHESIS ........................................................................................................ 6
III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ............................................................................ 7
A. General Objectives ...................................................................................... 7
B. Specific Objectives ..................................................................................... 7
IV. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY........................................................................ 8
V. LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 9
VI. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................ 27
VII. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................... 29
VIII. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 30
A. Variables ................................................................................................... 30
B. Scope and Limitation ................................................................................ 31
C. Analytical Tools ........................................................................................ 32
IX. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...................................... 35
X. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ................................................................................ 71
XI. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 75
XII. RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 76
XIII. REFERENCES ..................................................................................................... 79
XIV. APPENDICES ...................................................................................................... 82
Appendix A: Questionnaire from the Survey ........................................... 82
Appendix B: Data for the Cemetery Life Index........................................ 88
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I. INTRODUCTION
Poverty has always been a problem in the Philippines. It is a chronic and rampant
phenomenon that has been inflicting the country for a number of years. According to the
recent study of the Philippine Statistics Authority, as of July 2014 there has been an
increase on the poverty incidence in the country. From the 24.6% of the year 2013 there
has been 1.2 percentage points increase on the year 2014, which has a poverty incidence
of 25.8%. This just goes to say that poverty is an ever present situation that is being
experienced by many Filipinos today.
Poverty has been defined and has continuously been redefined in the presence of
time. Although it has normally been imprisoned on the idea that it is an issue with the
economy, it cannot be denied that poverty is a multidimensional concept, which also
integrates social, political and cultural dimensions. Poverty is not only the lack of
material needs that are required for survival, the poor also lack the provision of enabling
needs that should have been able to empower them given their positions, so it would be
inaccurate to consider poverty as merely a personal failing without taking into account
structural failures as well. It is because of the system and conditions present in the
country today that makes poverty more widespread and more uncontrollable.
With the dawn of the age of rapid urbanization, informal settling is nothing new
in the country. It has become a manifestation of poverty and the lack of access to basic
needs. Data from the National Housing Authority has shown that as of August 2007,
overall there is an estimation of 550, 711 household that are considered to be informally
settled families, 199, 393 households or 36.21% of them are in the National Capital
Region or NCR. And more recently, according to a study by the Asian Development
1
Bank made on the year 2011, approximately 43% of Metro Manila's inhabitants are living
in informal settlements. Based on the data, informal settlers predominantly live in the city
or in urbanized areas.
What these informal settlers, or the poor in general, suffer the most from is their
non-access to basic needs. These basic needs would traditionally pertain to food, water,
and shelter. Other than those three, basic needs can also include sanitation and hygiene,
and even the access to basic social services, like health and education, could also be
included to the list of basic needs. There are those that would also consider the access to
basic needs as a human right. With their ill access to such needs, the poor are most
vulnerable to both man-made and natural disasters that could inflict them in their down-
trodden states.
Essentially what is needed, according to several studies, is the improvement of the
quality of life. While there are many approaches that deal with the alleviation of poverty
and whatnot, an example of an approach that largely takes into account the question of
the access to basic needs is the Minimum Basic Needs Approach. This said approach
classifies needs into three categories: Survival Needs, Enabling Needs, and Security
Needs. Survival needs are basically subdivided to the needs that individuals must have in
order to subsist daily, like food and water. Enabling needs are the „tools‟ that an
individual must have in order to empower themselves or to increase their opportunities in
life as a whole, these would include education or literacy. As for security needs, these are
the types of needs that are required in order to protect an individual from physical
externalities, like shelter and would also include security from both people and the
environment.
2
With the lack of these needs, the informal settlers are left with no choice but to
make make-shift houses and to illegally settle on land that is not theirs, the poor are
forced to be „creative‟ and to adapt in order to have roofs above their heads. Empty lands,
near railways, along sidewalks and river, under bridges, dumpsites and in cemeteries,
these are the places that most middle class people would not even think of living in. But
to the poor and the informal settlers, these kinds of places are their homes.
While normally graveyards are places for the dead and not for the living, but in
the Philippines‟ case it is not only the dead who live in cemeteries but there are also
people who live amongst the dead. Tombs are turned into tables and into beds; and
mausoleums are turned to houses. Cemeteries provide shelter to Philippines‟ urban poor.
And living in a public cemetery usually implies the lack of access to basic needs.
Several documentaries and articles have been made about the life of the people
living in cemeteries. A particular example of this would be the existence of the people
living in the Manila North Cemetery, that is also known as the Cementerio del Norte. It is
one of the oldest, present since the 1900s, and largest, spanning 54 hectares, cemeteries in
the country. It is the home to many tombs and it is also the home to many informal
settlers. It is said from articles on Rappler and on CNN that there is an estimated amount
of 10, 000 people living in the said cemetery. And according to some of those who have
interviewed residents in the area, such residents have lived in the said cemetery for their
whole lives and their fathers and mothers have also lived in the same cemetery before
them.
The people living in cemeteries and other informal settlers, who also live in the
slums, are manifestations of the poverty being experienced in the country today. The
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paramount agency that should be working towards poverty elimination thus also solving
the issue regarding informal settlements is the government. Alleviating the living
conditions and generally ensuring that they are attaining a better quality of life; meaning
that they are able to get their basic needs, and not only their needs but most especially
their basic social services, should be one of the aspects that the government should
intensify. Other than living conditions this paper would give emphasis on having shelter
as an important basic need and the right to adequate housing.
But the problem with the measures taken upon by the government is that there are
times that they are not sustainable and practical for those that are affected. With almost to
no assistance from the government reaching them, the informal settlers have learned to
adapt. The informal settlers are forced to make make-shift dwellings to serve as their
shelters, to settle on land that is not theirs in order to avoid paying rent, to make illegal
connections in order to have electricity and to sacrifice the assurance for clean and
potable water for sustenance therefore even risking sanitation and health in general,
among others.
Poverty is a chronic and rampant issue that has brought about the increase of the
number of informal settlers who are mostly centered in urban areas. The quality of life
that they are living and the living conditions they are experiencing, more often than not
would be considered lacking. The poor or informal settlers living in cemeteries, and not
just the cemetery but informal settlement in general, are manifestations of the entrenching
poverty that is present today.
4
The scope of this case study focuses on the living conditions of the informal
settlers of three cemeteries in Metro Manila. The said cemeteries that were identified
were the following: (1) Bagbag Cemetery in Quezon City; (2) Tugatog Cemetery in
Malabon City; and (3) North Cemetery in Manila City.
1. Bagbag Public Cemetery is situated in Novaliches, Quezon City, near the Holy
Cross Memorial Park and Quirino highway. According to some live reports by
GMA, the said cemetery spans a land area of seven hectares. The cemetery is a
part of the fifth district of Quezon City. Quezon City is considered, based on the
size of its population and the land area, as the largest city in Metro Manila and
even the country itself. It is composed of 142 barangays and is further subdivided
into six districts. According to data from the Census of Population and Housing,
as of 2010 the total population of people living inside the said city was 2,761,720
or almost 2.8 million people. The city almost covers a quarter of the Metropolitan
Manila area with its lands stretching across an area of 16,112.8 hectares. Quezon
City is referred to as a distribution hub, at least according to its official
government page, because it is strategically near both transportation networks and
metropolitan roads, and accessible to the trains and the major highways in the
country.
2. Tugatog Public Cemetery is a cemetery in Tugatog, Malabon which spans at a
land area of three hectares, according to a news report from GMA, and is situated
near Caloocan Cemetery and the borderline areas which separate Malabon City
from Caloocan City. The cemetery is more well-known to the public because of
the statue or tableau of Satan and St. Michael the Archangel that is inside the
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cemetery. The City of Malabon is known for being one of the fish-trading centers
in Metro Manila. It is a part of what is called the CAMANAVA area in Metro
Manila, which consists of the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and
Valenzuela. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority and the online
government page of the said city, that as of 2010 Malabon City has a population
of 353,337 people, a land area of 1,571.40 hectares and it consists of 21 barangays
which are further separated onto two districts.
3. The Manila North Cemetery is a public cemetery in Santa Cruz, Manila. At 54
hectares it is not only considered to be the largest public cemetery in Metro
Manila, but is also one of the oldest. It is also near two other cemeteries in the
area, La Loma Cemetery and the Chinese Cemetery. It is one of the most
documented cases in the country of having living residents inside the said
cemetery. Manila City is considered to be the capital of the Philippines, and has a
population of 1,652,171 as of the year 2010. According to the Philippine Statistics
Authority, the said city has a land area of 2,498 hectares. As of 2013, it was
considered as the second densest city in the world. Manila consists of six
congressional districts and 14 municipalities.
II. HYPOTHESIS
Informal Settlers in cemeteries do not have proper access to their basic needs and
basic social services.
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III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
A. General Objectives
The researcher sought to find out the living conditions of the poor who are living
in public cemeteries. The public cemeteries that were studied consists of three areas in
Metro Manila, these are: Bagbag Cemetery in Quezon City, Tugatog Cemetery in
Malabon City, and North Cemetery in Manila City. The overall living conditions of the
residents of public cemeteries will also be portrayed. This research‟s purpose is also to
give notice not only to what level of access to the basic needs of the informal settlers
have, but this also takes into question as to what their access or non-access to basic social
services is.
B. Specific Objectives
Since the research was focused on assessing the living conditions or the standard
of living of those living in cemeteries, the researcher sought to gather data from the
variables that were derived from the following statements:
1. To assess the conditions of each of the cemeteries based on their access to
material needs or the needs for survival.
a. Income and Employment;
b. Food and Water;
c. Access to Basic Social Services with regards to Health and Education; and
d. Access to Government Services or Projects.
2. To gather the perception of the informal settlers in the three cemeteries about the
following:
a. Perception on their situation with regards to poverty;
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b. Perception on the sufficiency or the insufficiency of their income e for
them and their families‟ needs;
c. Perception on the reason they live in cemeteries, if it is, for them, better to
live outside or inside the cemetery; and
d. Perception of the government, especially with regards to the services
rendered for them.
3. To compare and contrast the living conditions in these cemeteries in order to be
made aware as to why, if it is so, the living condition in one cemetery is better
than the other two cemeteries.
4. To offer recommendations to the government or the authorities to better address
the needs of their constituents or serve their people.
IV. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The living conditions of the urban poor, not just the informal settlers, are
something that should be taken into account, most importantly by the government. As
shelter, as is food and clothing, are not only basic needs but are also human rights.
Informal settlements are a timely issue, and are something that has been far too ignored
by the local officials in the country. Everyday these informal settlers are entrenched in
the reality that they could be evicted at their make-shift houses. These 'squatters' per se
are socially excluded in way that they are treated nothing more as an unproductive sector
of the society. This paper seeks to inquire and discover the living conditions on one of the
poor sectors in the country, and to offer suggestions to the local government on their way
of handling a community of informal settlers.
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V. LITERATURE REVIEW
Poverty as a Concept
Poverty has long been an issue for both developed and underdeveloped countries.
It is said to be most rampant in the Third World because of the low economic growth that
is being experienced by still developing countries. Although poverty has been largely
attributed to the economy, it is without a doubt that poverty is not only an economic issue
because poverty is also, in fact, a multifaceted concept. It is a multidimensional issue that
also has economic, social, and cultural dimensions.
According to a paper regarding the measuring of poverty, indicators of said
concept could be based over satisfaction and needs (Foster, 1998). There are many
indicators that could be used as a way to study and measure poverty as a concept. Some
of the more traditional indicators used by researchers to measure poverty are economic,
like the Gross Domestic Product or GDP and the Gross National Product or the GNP, and
inflation; and monetary, like level of income and wages, in nature. Although the
economic dimension of poverty is in itself important, there is a need to break free from
these notions and to accept that poverty just doesn‟t have one face; it has multiple faces
that are all different from each other. To do so would help deviate from the
misconception that economic growth would help each person in the Philippines because
several studies have proven that economic growth does not actually directly translate to
poverty reduction (ADB, 2009).
On Measuring and Approaches to Poverty
Throughout time poverty has constantly been observed and redefined. Normally,
in measuring and studying poverty, perceptions about poverty have been divided into two
9
approaches which are relative poverty and absolute poverty. Technically speaking, a
universal notion of poverty is that an individual or his/her family is poor if he/she lives
below the set poverty line/poverty threshold in his/her respective countries. Absolute
Poverty is defined as a „fixed cut-off label‟, that is if an individual lives or survives below
a dollar day then he/she is experiencing absolute poverty. While relative poverty takes in
the notion of the standard of living, with which the view of society is also taken into
account. The difference between them is that absolute poverty is used universally or
worldwide, it does not change regardless of what country a person is in. While relative
poverty is more contextual in approach in that, the notion of poverty is different from
every area or country or per sector or even per person.
According to a paper by Foster (1998) there have been suggestions to „hybridize‟
said two approaches to poverty and the aspects related to it. There is no need to make the
two approaches go against each other; rather what is needed is to synthesize the said two
together. The approaches to poverty should not be strictly absolute in a way that there
should be a more relative approach to the poverty threshold. Foster proposes that one that
such approach must be sensitive to the changes in the general standard of living. It is said
that this would contribute to the concept of income elasticity with regards to the poverty
line. Where measuring poverty should be relative per country‟s experience or perhaps per
specific area or per sector‟s experiences.
Asselin (2011) takes another approach to poverty. Instead of accounting that
poverty using the poverty threshold; poverty is a concept that has a social nature, which
takes into account the question of equity and equality. Once again, the concept of
poverty is vast; Asselin discusses three divisions or approaches to poverty: welfarism,
10
basic needs approach, and capability approach. The welfarist approach is subjective in a
way that it considers an individual to be poor if he or she lacks economic well-being; it
values income indicators when it comes to poverty. The basic needs approach values the
access of individuals to basic needs, like food, shelter, and clothing, etc. Finally the
capability approach takes into account what both are under the welfarism and the basic
needs approach. Along with basic needs satisfaction, it is an approach that takes into
question the capacity of an individual to avoid illnesses, as well as death.
Poverty as a Social Problem
As what was said before poverty is multi-dimensional. Amartya Sen proves this in
one of her works regarding social exclusion and capability deprivation. According to Sen
(2002) „the perspective of social exclusion reinforces the understanding of poverty as
capability deprivation‟. According to the study, introducing social exclusion in the
perspective of poverty broadens the said concept, since it is also an issue of deprivation.
Vulnerability, like social exclusion, is also an extension of poverty or a concept
that should be related to poverty. The poor who experience deprivation are more
vulnerable to the negative externalities that may affect their state of well-being. As such
it is said that vulnerability and poverty are interrelated with each other. According to
Philip (2004) the development of poverty has been constantly redefined and has been
linked to a various number of concepts. He refers to poverty as a dynamic concept and as
such has presented itself to be a multi-faceted phenomenon along with vulnerability.
The study of poverty brought about the study of vulnerability as one of the non-
monetary aspects of poverty. It emerged from the definition that poverty is the lack of
access to basic needs. Vulnerability, like poverty, is said to be similar to the said concept
11
because it also has social, political, economic, and environmental dimensions. The poor
are said to be more susceptible to this regardless if the disaster are natural or man-made.
Within such studies with regards to vulnerability, there are said to be two approaches to
such matter or concept. It is viewed as ether rights or risks centric (Philip, 2004).
Standard of Living
The people who suffer from poverty, more often than not, live in what would be
considered as sub-par living conditions. Sub-par meaning that it is lacking. Standard of
living in itself has been defined as the level of wealth or prosperity being enjoyed by a
class or individuals. This also talks about the necessities or level of subsistence
experienced by these people. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
an adequate standard of living should also be considered as a human right. Included in
these are the adequate levels of the three most common of the basic necessities which are
food, clothing, and shelter. It also talks about the right to medical care, and basic social
services, security of livelihood, among others.
Often, the standard of living faced by the poor consists of, in the case of slum
dwellers, overcrowded and crude habitation, hazardous area or location, and there is no
security of tenure. Their living conditions are examples or depictions of economic and
environmental deprivation and inadequacy. Households have poor access to their basic
necessities, and their problems center on proper sanitation and poor health. The poor,
who face inadequate living conditions, are most vulnerable to man-made and natural risks
or disasters (Ballesteros, 2012).
Noting the particular case of informal settlers, more often than not such variables
covered by the right to an adequate standard of living are variables that they would have a
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difficult time getting, depending on what kind or form of informal settlement they are
living in. Since they do not have land titles in the places that they occupy, they have
certain difficulties with regards to getting housing amenities. These are amenities such as,
the provisions of water, electricity and telecommunications, all of which are necessary
things in a shelter. With this, they resort to unconventional or illegal means of gaining
such things or in general, basic social services and basic needs (Lagman, 2012).
The Minimum Basic Needs Approach
Talking about the access and non-access to the basic needs and social services;
poverty is measured in various ways, as what was mentioned before. To take into
account, one of the ways in which poverty is measured is to take a look at the approach or
the indicator of poverty is on the access to the Minimum Basic Need of a household or an
individual; which asks the question of adequacy and is based primarily on the
improvement of the quality of life of each individual and/or household. The indicators of
what are considered to be a part of the minimum basic needs approach are classified into
three categories. The MBN talks about (1) the Survival Needs, (2) the Enabling Needs,
and (3) the Security Needs.
The first is further subdivided into three more categories, each of them having
their own variables or factors to consider. These Survival Needs or in other terms the
basic needs for survival are also referred to as the biophysical needs, meaning that these
are the type of needs that are required for sustenance or in order to sustain life (Del
Rosario, 2002). Under these Survival Needs include the following: Nutrition, Health, and
Water and Sanitation. Nutrition talks about malnutrition rates, the percentage of school
children who are in-between to moderately and severely underweight or malnourished,
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and also the weight of newborns; Health talks about the infant mortality rate, child
mortality rate, and the number and ratio of medical and health professionals to the
population, another indicator for health would be mortality rate of women whose causes
of deaths were related to child-birth or pregnancy-related; and Water and Sanitation
which uses the access to potable water as an indicator or to a safe water supply, and also
the access to or non-access to sanitation facilities (Reyes, 2004). To note, certain
approaches to MBN also includes clothing as a survival need.
The second, which are the Enabling Needs, are further subdivided into two
categories. The Enabling Needs are also referred to as the needs for empowerment; these
talks about the requirements or what you should have in order to ensure that you get or
individuals and/or households attain the other two needs under the MBN Approach (Del
Rosario, 2002). These said categories are the following: Basic Education and Literacy,
and People‟s Participation. Like the previous type of need, the subdivisions of the
Enabling Needs also encompass several factors. The former is composed of the
elementary participation rate and the completion rate of students in school; and the latter
primarily uses the indicator of how many members of a family are able to vote in
elections or what their level of self-determination is (Reyes, 2004). There are also some
studies which include psychosocial and family care as being under the Enabling Needs.
Lastly, the third need which is the Security Needs is composed of the variables
on Peace and Order, and Public Safety. It talks about two things, first is the number of
victims of crime against a person, while the second is almost the same but it talks about
crimes against property (Reyes, 2004). The Security Needs are also referred to or defined
as the needs required in order to protect individuals and/or households from harm or
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external damages. Some studies include shelter, and income and livelihood as types of
needs that are under the MBN‟s Security Needs (Del Rosario, 2002). The indicators used
under shelter would include the following: these are the number of people or the
proportion of households which are informal settlers, and those who are living inside
make-shift dwellings. The indicators used by income and employment are far more
numerous than the others, these would include the question if an individual is actually
employed or not, if the household of these individuals have experienced food shortages,
and if the income from this source of livelihood is below the poverty and subsistence
threshold.
Uses and Cases of the MBN as an Approach to Tackling Poverty
The Minimum Basic Needs Approach is predominantly used as a monitoring tool
for local governments or basically at a local or community level. It generally focuses on
the improvement of the quality of life. And as was mentioned before, it is normally
subdivided into three distinct categories, which consists, to note, of the following:
Survival Needs, Enabling Needs, and Security Needs.
According to paper by Panadero (2004), the Minimum Basic Needs Approach has
actually been used to monitor the Millennium Development Goals at the local level. In
the case of the MDGs there is a need to monitor the MDGs through the local government
units instead of just at a national level. In order to ensure that there is real implementation
happening and basic services are actually being delivered. The study refers to the
Minimum Basic Needs Approach as a way of „using basic needs as a basis for situation
analysis, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation,‟ it is also a study, as
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what was mentioned before, that focuses on improvement of the quality of life and the
prioritization of the security, the enabling, and the survival needs.
To cite particular cases in the Philippines, the MBN has been used as an approach
to monitoring poverty and ensuring the quality of life in various provinces in the country.
In the case of Davao del Norte, the MBN was a strategy adapted in order, as Del Rosario
(2002) states, to efficiently deal with the problems on poverty and under-development
and also to systemize the collection of data in the province. The policymakers in Davao
del Norte believe that in order to improve the quality of life of their citizens as a whole,
what should be given prioritization are an individual and/or a household accessibility to
the needs for survival, empowerment, and security. They believed in the active
participation of the government for the sake of its constituents, through the effective
governance on the local level, in order to have a government which adequately or
effectively provides the services needed to be rendered, and people‟s empowerment, in
order to foster the participation of its citizens at a community level so as to involve them
in actively partaking in the decision-making process of their locality.
The author of the study states that while what Davao del Norte was doing could
be considered as deviating from the norm of the form of public service largely practiced
by the Filipinos in modern times. But such actions would have been paramount to
alleviating poverty in the province. In adapting an approach that identifies the needs of
the people at the grassroots level or the bottom-up level, will help with managing
resources efficiently and the proper delivery of basic social service. All in all, abiding to
such strategy, like the Minimum Basic Needs Approach, has made the province, as
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quoted from the author, „more people-centered and development-oriented (Del Rosario,
2002).‟
Proliferation of Informal Settlements due to Poverty
Poverty is a recurrent problem in the Philippines. According to a study of the
Asian Development Bank, in the context of the Philippines, the causes of poverty are or
could be attributed to slow economic growth, ineffective poverty reduction methods,
weakness in employment generation, failure to develop the agricultural sector, high
inflation, population growth, persistence of inequality, and exposure to economic crises,
natural disasters and the like (ADB 2009).
Initially, poverty is said to be a mainly rural phenomenon but in the recent years it
has also fast become an urban phenomenon (ADB, 2009). Although the country has said
to have been making economic improvements over the few years, as what was said
before, it does not explicitly mean that although the economy has been better that poverty
has been alleviated.
With the dawn and continuing age of urbanization, informal settlements are
nothing new in the metropolitan area; in fact it has been proliferating in urban areas in the
modern age today. In 2007 data, the highest concentration of informal settlers is said to
be in the National Capital Region or NCR. According to the study, Spatial Statistics of
Informal Settlers in the Philippines, informal settling communities, families or
households are mostly concentrated in Quezon City (Cruz, 2010).
To elaborate, informal settlements have been defined and redefined by various
institutions inside and outside the country. On a study discussed by Cruz (2010) and the
National Census Office, informal settlers are defined as being „households whose tenure
17
status is rent-free and has been used without the consent of the original owner‟. The
Urban Development Housing Act of 1992 or the UDHA broadens this definition to make
it more encompassing and more multi-faceted. In said Act, which is also called RA 7279,
they identify or adapt the terms „homeless and underprivileged‟ citizens to informal
settlers or the so aforementioned squatters. Such definitions are followed by the National
Housing Authority and other Local Government Units. The Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council or the HUDCC defines informal settlers broadly;
they attribute its concept to various factors. To name, there are six ways they describe on
what types of areas are informal settlers living in, these are the following: (1) lots without
consent of the property owner, (2) danger areas, (3) areas for government infrastructure
projects, (4) protected/forest areas (except for indigenous people), (5) Areas for Priority
Development or APDs, and (6) other government/public lands or facilities not intended
for habitation (Cruz, 2010).
Historically, informal settlements became a blatant phenomenon after the World
War II. It was when a large number of the survivors of the war built their settlement
around Manila. A lot of jobs were opened after the war, from factories to commerce;
Manila became a hub for new opportunities. The number of informal settlements
increased around Manila at that time, because many of the people outside the area of
Manila sought job opportunities in the city. With the entry of migrants in the city, the
population of informal settlers increased and with that came the strain of the housing
problems in Manila (PhilRights, 2014).
Continually experiencing depressive conditions, informal settlements are being
involved in various problems or issues that are not only physical in nature but emotional
18
or psychological as well. According to a paper by Lagman (2012), he points out on how
informal settlers are put into a negative outlook by outsiders and a part of the
consciousness of the Filipinos. They are largely marginalized and are treated as a
problem to modernization. They are ostracized by the general public, and dismissed by
the government. According to the aforementioned author, they are even being „labeled‟ in
a negative fashion. For example, if the words associated with informal settlers are listed,
like those who are living in depressed areas, those living illegally on land that is not
theirs, and squatters, it would be noticed that informal settlers are often stigmatized on
how their living.
Lagman (2012) looks into the notion that living in informal settlements is
adaptation; it is survival in a „unique‟ setting. Although, as what was said before, often
portrayed in a negative light, according to his paper, the „depressed‟ area in which
informal settlers live in are considered to be an everyday form of resistance against the
state and the ruling class. Calling slums as „weapons of the weak‟, a concept developed
by John Scott, said author argues that these slums are considerably areas that are showing
indirect defiance of the unprivileged members of society to the state and against the more
privileged member of society .They serve as manifestations of class struggle, like fighting
for the rights of the poor to a decent living space, among others.
Living Conditions in Informal Settlements around the World
Case 1: Africa
The proliferation of informal settlements or these slum or squatter areas, is said to
be physical manifestation of social exclusion in Africa. With rapid urbanization as one of
the key factors as to why there is a proliferation of informal settlement in urban areas,
19
Sub-Saharan Africa‟s population living inside urban cities are numerous, and more than
60% of them live in informal settlements They are said to be socially excluded in the
sense that informal settlers do not participate or get involved in various spheres of society
like the economy, social, politically and culturally; resulting to make informal settlers
even more poor because of what they face. They have been referred to as a form of
institutional failure which originates from failures in getting a security of tenure, of the
local government, in the access of public utilities in housing finance and in housing
policies. The living conditions or the environment in informal settlement are, at most
times, considered deplorable and filled with inadequacies. When it comes to water,
sanitation and hygiene in informal settlement this characterized by inadequate water
supplies, neglected conditions of the sanitation of the environment, non-existence of a
proper waste disposal system (Arimah, 2001).
Case 2: Nigeria
A case study in Nigeria reveals the deplorable conditions of the urban slum
settlers in the country. Data from a paper by Olajide (2010) shows that more than 60% of
the citizens in Nigeria live below the poverty line and generally speaking, based on a
report by the UN in 2004, Nigeria is considered to be the 30th poorest country in the
world. The author argues than urban poverty is form of what he called cumulative
deprivation, this means, as what was stated in his paper, that „one dimension of poverty is
often the cause of or a contributor to another dimension of poverty.‟ In the Nigerian
situation of informal settlements, there is a lack of basic needs, basic social services,
infrastructures and physical amenities like some of the following: (1) Education, (2)
Nutrition and Healthcare, (3) Community Centers, (4) Drainage and Sewerage, (5)
20
Sanitation, and (6) Water Supply. And also living in physically indecent or rundown
housing, wherein the informal settlers are living in various states of deprivation, their
physical environment is also in a decline (Olajide, 2010).
Case 3: Peru
According to a study by in Peru by Cockburn (2015) and his colleagues Peru was
an excellent case study relating to the urban poor because as of 2010, more than 75% of
Peru‟s residents actually live in urban areas. The living conditions of the informal
settlements in Peru are largely characterized by physical conditions like the following:
the non-access to utilities, like a properly piped sewage systems or sanitation (1), direct
access of water pipes (2), access to electricity (3), and the housing condition or the
dwellings of informal settlers which are made with less than durable materials (4). The
authors argue about the importance of doing or investing slum upgrading, increasing the
political will of the government on order to invest for such, and strengthening the
participation of communities.
The challenges faced by the informal settlers in Peru is that there is unfairness in
accessing equal opportunities in the country, like the lack of enabling needs such as a
good quality education, which is stated to be directly related to the accessibility to
employment and then in turn which would influence an individual or a household‟s
earning capacity, which all in all would later affect the level of access of an individual or
household‟s access to basic needs like the affordability of proper utilities and a decent
dwelling or residence. The authors conclude that there have been improvements of the
informal settlement situation of the said country; this has been largely attributed to three
things, which are the following: (1) government funding on housing programs and as well
21
as the increase of basic social services, (2) the solidarity of the neighborhood
organizations or the concerned communities in Peru in demanding better service
provisions from the government, and (3) the house-hold level initiatives (Cockburn,
2015). Political commitment and public policies aimed in improving and promoting the
living conditions of the poor can go a long way, as is what can be proven in the case of
Peru.
Living Conditions in Informal Settlements in the Philippines
Bad or sub-par living conditions are the terms which are normally attributed to
informal settlements. Previously stated from the data from UDHA, one of the
classifications used in order to determine what informal settlements are is that they could
be set-up in areas which are normally considered to be danger zones to the public. Not
only that the areas could be considered hazardous, the fact that these slums are situated
right inside the city, they are also vulnerable to various things like, overcrowding and
what could be considered crude habitats. More often than not they also have an
inadequate supply of water and poor sanitation. More importantly they have no security
in their informal residences, where they could be threatened to be evicted at any time
(Ballesteros, 2010).
A study by Ballesteros (2010) discusses an important dimension of poverty that is
often experienced in urban areas, which is environmental poverty. The study shows that
while rural poverty is more rampant than urban poverty, urban poverty has been steadily
increasing due to the rise of rapid urbanization. Data from the FIES or the Family Income
and Expenditure Survey from 2006 shows that about eight million people to be
considered poor live in urban areas and half of them are located in Metro Manila. The
22
environmental problems which are primarily experienced by these informal settlers are:
(1) congestion, because slum areas are often characterized by overcrowding or heavily
populated areas; (2) flooding, the study shows that one of the main types of Slums found
in Metro Manila are areas or communities which are situated near rivers or the sea; and
(3) pollution, which can range from water, the lack of proper sanitation facilities, waste
management and water sources enables this, air and noise, both of which are not
unexpected given that urban areas are notorious for air pollution and that most informal
settlements are also situated along roads or highways, and also in dumpsites.
Cemeteries as a Form of Informal Settlement
Since such informal settlers are forced to adapt the kinds of areas that informal
settlers resort to living in are, various. According to the Housing and Urban Development
Coordinating Council or the HUDCC, they would live in residential areas and private
lands, for some; there exists informal settling communities inside private subdivisions.
There are also those that live near rivers, creeks, canals, or waterways. They would also
live, which is observable in Manila, near railroads or the train. Notably, informal settlers
also live under bridges and near to roads and the highway. One of the most deplorable
areas in which informal settlers live in are dumpsites, with which they are very much
vulnerable to health related, and sanitation and hygiene problems or issues that they may
encounter with. Some informal settlers would also live in areas for government
infrastructure projects, within protected areas and forest lands, and within compound of
government hospital, school, military camps or other public institutions and facilities.
Finally, there have also been cases wherein there informal settlements that live within
cemeteries (Cruz, 2010).
23
While normally cemeteries are normally the house of the dead, there are also
cemeteries that provide shelter for the poor or acts as the shelter of informal settling
communities. Cemeteries or also known as graveyards are burial grounds or are lands
used in order to bury the dead. This is actually normal in the Philippines wherein one of
their largest and oldest cemeteries in the country, Manila North Cemetery or Cementerio
del Norte, is the home of many people. Many people have been born and lived there, and
even the cemeteries offer jobs to many people. Cemeteries serve as a low-cost housing
for the poor, according to an article. The issues faced in the questions with regards to as
to why people live in cemeteries cannot only be enclosed in that question but the question
that if the government is doing its duty in properly addressing the needs of these informal
residents. An article by Hodal (2013) says that although the government has in fact
offered resettlements to these informal settlers they do not take it because of the fact that
they are relocated to far flung areas where they would be far from the access of their
basic needs and basic social services (Hodal, 2013). There have not been many studies
made in the Philippines about the use of cemeteries as a form of informal settling.
Although it is not a new concept, it has not been religiously tracked in the Philippines.
Talking about the case of other countries, it is not only the Philippines with which the
houses of the poor are cemeteries.
In Cairo, Egypt there exists on what is referred to as the „Cities of the Dead‟.
According to Fahmi (2014) living in the cemetery is considered as a unique form of
informal settlement. His study introduces the reality that the informal settlers living
inside cemeteries are facing social exclusion and are said to be victims of social stigmas
placed upon them by outsiders or society in general. Fahmi (2014) advocates that
24
strengthening the urban poor‟s capacity to work with the state is an important aspect of
poverty alleviation. It gives example on government intervention where in it serves as a
solution according to the state.
Intervention in Solving the Issue on Slums
Speaking on government intervention, there is a need for an overall
comprehensive strategy for such matter, with the means of not only catering to the upper
classes but also those who are directly affected by such plans. There is a need for proper
compensation, warning, consultation, and provisions for resettlement, when plans for
resettlement are made. In the case of the cemetery poor in Egypt, their government‟s
intervention constitutes a comprehensive program of the transference or relocation of said
tomb dwellers and evicting them from the cemeteries. Such solution will in the form of
an issue rather than a relief to the tomb dwellers, if it is not handled properly (Fahmi,
2014).
Other than resettlement, slum rehabilitation is also considered as a solution for the
proliferation of informal settlements in urban areas. According to the Asian Development
Bank slum rehabilitation is included as an integral part of its urban development agenda.
Their study is particularly focused on the „Asian‟ context of illegal settlements, with a
focus on the economic implications of slums in urban cities.
According to the study, developing countries are struggling to provide adequate
housing and social services to its urban population. Urban slum proliferation is handled
either through rehabilitation and improvement, or demolition and resettlement.
Addressing issues regarding slums should be done with an integrative approach that
25
targets the poor and promotes the participation of the civil society in order to help the
poor with their issues on adequate housing and shelter.
It was further stated that government‟s poverty reduction programs are weak and
deficient. There is a need for a multi-dimensional response to poverty. The solutions
presented by the study are both long-term and short-term poverty reduction schemes.
Examples of such solution are recommendations in the form of economic reforms that
promotes sustainability and inclusive growth, and there should. But all in all, regardless
of such time constraints, government intervention is important when it comes to poverty
reduction (ADB, 2011).
The Rights of Informal Settlers
When talking about human rights, having an adequate standard of living is a right.
To live in poverty is to be having a barely or hardly an adequate standard of living. With
which those who undergo it experience the deprivation of their most basic of need. Such
basic need normally including house, clothing, food, and water are hard to get by because
of the conditions pressed on them.
Putting note to housing or shelter as a basic right, this talk about the right to
adequate housing, the problems or issues related to this especially affects slum dwellers
that are vulnerable to threats of eviction and harassment in turn because of the informal
nature of their shelters. Such forced evictions put slum dwellers in an even deeper state of
poverty and deprivation, and that it would at time results to homelessness. The state is
said to be reluctant to address such plight because of the informal nature of living that the
slum dwellers have. A study of the United Nations states that if alleviating the situation
of slum dwellers would contribute to the welfare of their area because of the assurance
26
that non-discriminatory action to the slum dwellers would bolster their initiative or
participation in improving their community (UN, 2009).
VI. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This study will make use of Phenomenological Approach and the Conflict Theory
as its Theoretical Framework.
The Phenomenological Approach is widely defined as the study that is based on
the human perspective. In other words, it is general related or regarded to a person‟s or an
individual‟s perspective or own perception on an event or situation, or perhaps, an idea or
a phenomenon. In philosophy, it is considered to be a method of inquiry which is based
on the idea that looks on how reality or phenomena, both objects and the events, is
perceived by the human subconscious or in an individual‟s subjective outlook or
experience. This was largely developed by the German philosopher, Edmund Husserl,
who is considered to be the Father of Phenomenology. This study will look at poverty on
how it is seen behind the eyes of the poor. How they define what are the characteristics or
variables which make person poor and what is not, and how they would classify a poor
person.
The Conflict Theory comes with the idea that poverty is not a personal failing, but
is a phenomenon that comes about because not everyone has the same access to
resources. This theory was founded by or originated from Karl Marx, generally this talks
about the conflict between classes where there is an inequality of resources attained
between them. It holds that there is a minority of the wealthy, otherwise known as the
bourgeoisie, which holds the power, dominates and oppresses the poor or the lower social
27
class, which actually constitute the majority of a population, in order to maintain the
status quo. The unfair relation between social classes brings about and strengthens
poverty and in turn brings about inequality. Wealth is only concentrated at the hands of
the few, and is not properly distributed at the hands of the masses. The more the power
the elite or the select few have the more chance that those who are considered poorer will
be exploited by them. Such system is still continuing up until now. That is why poverty is
still prevalent today and the poor‟s living conditions are inadequate and cannot support
them or their families properly.
These theories/approaches would further the knowledge and perspective on why
poverty is so prevalent, informal settlements are proliferating, why not every individual
could access and afford his/her resources, and why they are forced to live with sub-par
living conditions. And also how the poor themselves think of their situation and the
actions of those around them.
28
VII. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Informal Settling
FORM OF
Adaptation
CONSIDERING THAT
Poverty as „lack of choice‟

& „lack of opportunity‟
Cemeteries as a
THINGS TO CONSIDER form of Manifestation of Poverty
informal
Living Conditions
settlement
Income
INFORMAL SETTLERS FACE
Access to Basic Needs
Social Exclusion
WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS FOR

Shelter
Food Poverty Alleviation
Water
Sanitation
Health
Education Resettlement
Government Intervention
Informal settling is a primary example of a manifestation of poverty. As poverty
has been defined as lack of choice and also a lack of opportunity, the poor are forced to
adapt to the situations presented upon them. So as not to be rendered homeless, they turn
to building informal settlements as a form of physical shelter and a blanket of security.
Various settlements are located under bridges, on dumpsites, near railways, cemeteries,
29
and the like. Giving focus on the living conditions of the informal settlers in cemeteries,
various factors would have to be considered. These factors would encompass not just the
income of these informal settlers but also their access to basic need and basic social
services. As poverty is a multidimensional concept, involving economic and social
dimensions, the concept of social exclusion as an issue faced by informal settlers will be
included. Particularly talking about how social exclusion affects the perception of the
government or general population of them. Since it is the job of the government or the
authorities to perform public service, then what interventions have they done in order to
alleviate the issues pressed upon these informal settlers in cemeteries and if they have
offered alternate housing solutions for them in the form relocation or resettlement areas.
VIII. METHODOLOGY
A. Variables
 Urban Poor – Refers to the poor residing in urban areas, they are deprived of
their needs and experience inadequate living conditions among many others.
Their proliferation has been attributed to Rural to Urban Migration and population
growth.
 Cemeteries – Refers to burial grounds or the resting place of the dead.
 Informal Settlers – Informal Settlers are those people who do not own or who do
not have ownership of the land they are currently residing in.
 Living Standards/Standards of Living - level of wealth or subsistence being
enjoyed or experienced by a class or individuals
30
 Shelter – It is a dwelling, a house or a home, that serves as a refuge or a residence
from the physical elements.
 Food – It is a kind of solid substance which are used for consumption because it
supplies nourishment in order to sustain life and provide energy or growth
 Water – It is a liquid that is drunk by every living species, it is an important basic
need.
 Sanitation – These refers to the cleanliness of an object or an area, in order to
ensure the protection of health, the disposal of wastes and garbage are also
included under these.
 Clothing – These are garments worn over the body, in order to protect humans
from external elements that may affect their health.
 Health – This refers to the wellness or the condition and the state of a person‟s
body and the mind.
 Education – This is the act of gaining or learning knowledge or abilities and
skills in school in order to utilize them later in life.
B. Scope and Limitation
This particular study was limited to accessing only three areas, all of which are
public cemeteries in urban areas. These three cemeteries are: the Tugatog Cemetery,
Bagbag Cemetery, and the Manila North Cemetery. Participants were sampled randomly,
each cemetery having 35 to 40 respondents.
The North Cemetery in Manila was chosen as an area of study because it is the
oldest cemetery in the Philippines and it has the most pronounced case of being the home
of many informal settlers. Tugatog Cemetery and Bagbag Cemetery were chosen because
31
they were also cemeteries inside an urban area, and the cities that they belonged in
belonged to the NCR or the National Capital Region. Both were also some of the public
cemeteries which still have residents living in them, because there were some cemeteries
like of those in Caloocan and Valenzuela which previously had people living in some of
their public cemeteries but has already been evicted over the past years.
C. Analytical Tools
Three public cemeteries in the National Capital Region were assessed. Their
living conditions were compared and contrasted. The few of the main questions that were
asked were about their living conditions in general, and was also about: What makes the
living conditions of an area worse or better than the other. A benchmark was made on the
factors or variables that were considered on what would be or what an individual or
household should have in order to be considered as having adequate living conditions.
Several factors were highlighted and corresponding questions were asked about said
factors or variables. These factors or variables included elements of both the access to
basic needs and basic social services. To enumerate, these included: income, shelter,
food, water, clothing, education and health. Their perception on poverty, using
themselves or the situations or the life they are experiencing as a basis, would also be
questioned.
In order to assess the living conditions of the poor in cemeteries, this study
primarily used qualitative methods but also made use of some quantitative methods. This
study was conducted with the use of survey questionnaires, for which the respondents
were over a hundred. The researcher also used informal or unstructured interviews, and
Focused Group Discussions were also utilized.
32
In the survey-questionnaire, questions were both nominal and ordinal in nature,
but most of the questions were nominal in character. For the nominal data, or the data that
cannot be quantified, primarily percentages would be gathered from the data coming
from those types of questions in the survey-questionnaire. Some of the results would be
summarized in words in paragraphs, and were also incorporated into the Data Analysis
and Finding Section of the paper. Each relevant percentage, depending on the factors that
were derived from the survey, would be laid-out and then would be compared and
contrasted between the three cemeteries.
Formula for Percentage:
( )
Note:
 f = Number of cases in any category (frequency)
 N = Number of cases in all categories
As for the ordinal data, this research used a method similar to how the Human
Development Index or the HDI was computed and produced. Several variables or factors
were taken into account; questions that were not numerical in nature were assigned
numbers or points. The points were averaged in order to get the desired index. For
example, the value of 1 would mean the absence of a certain variable, and the value of 5
would indicate the access to a certain value. Some of the data were also given a range in
order to assign points to them also. The said values‟ range is only from 1 to 5, 5 being the
highest and 1 being the lowest.
The Cemetery Life Index or the CLI, which is the ‟HDI‟ of the cemeteries that
were used as case studies in Metro Manila, was used as a numerical measure on what the
33
general living conditions of each area are. This would be used as a rank for each of the
three cemeteries to see who has the better living condition over the other. The greater the
CLI the better the living condition, the lower the CLI the worse living conditions. The
CLI is a means to summarize the data found from the survey. To make an overall
assumption on what the living conditions of the informal settlers in cemeteries are
experiencing through the use or identification of select variables.
To be precise, the said variables or factors that were repeatedly mentioned before
that would be utilized for the computation of this index, consists of the following:
perception of poverty, income and employment, housing, access to food and water,
health, education, and also how the government has helped them over the years. Data
derived from each factors were all averaged in order to get the general or overall life
index among the cemeteries. The life indices of each cemetery were also averaged and
compared to one another.
Formula for the Average:
Formula for the Life Index:
Note:
 CLI = Cemetery Life Index
o A = Perception of Poverty
o B = Employment (Income, Regularity, Perception of Sufficiency)
o C = Housing (Length of Residency, Roof, Electricity)
34
o D = Food (Frequency, Cost/Amount)
o E = Water (Source, Availability of Comfort Rooms)
o F = Health (Hospital, Visits from Barangay Health Workers, Free Service
from City Health Office)
o G = Education (Level of Educational Attainment, Children Studying)
o H = Government (Help from the Government, Offers of Relocation,
Perception of Government Service)
Also, the research made use of thematic analysis and comparative analysis.
Thematic analysis was used because the study of „living conditions‟ was derived coming
from the data which came from the surveys or questionnaires that was conducted in the
field. Comparative analysis was used in comparing and contrasting between the three
areas that were covered by the study. The researcher looked at the common factors as to
why informal settlers‟ in cemeteries living conditions are why and what they are.
IX. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Content of Data Presentation, Implications, and Results:
1. Perception
1.1. Perception of Poverty
1.2. Perception on the Sufficiency Income
1.3. Perception of Living Inside vs. Outside of the Cemetery
1.4. Assessment of Government‟s Performance
2. Income and Employment
2.1. Regularity of the Source of Income
35
2.2. Distance of the Workplace from the Cemetery
2.3. Cemetery-Based Employment
3. Basic Needs
3.1. Shelter or Housing
3.2. Food
3.3. Water and Sanitation or Hygiene
4. Basic Social Services
4.1. Health
4.2. Education
5. Government
5.1. Government Assistance
5.2. Offers of Relocation from the Government
6. Cemetery Life Index: Public Cemeteries Metro, Manila
6.1. Bagbag Cemetery, Quezon City
6.2. Tugatog Cemetery, Malabon City
6.3. North Cemetery, Manila City
1. PERCEPTION
1.1. Perception of Poverty
As can be seen from Figure 1, most respondents, 55 out of 114 respondents or
48.25%, as based on their own experience, gave the rate of 3 as their perception of their
poverty. Giving the rate of 3 means that the respondents does not agree nor disagree that
he/she is relatively/extremely poor or not. Of the overall 114 respondents; 29 or 25.44%
36
of them gave the rate of 5, 15 or 13.16% of them gave the rate of 4, 12 or 10.53% of them
gave the rate of 2, and only 3 or 2.63% out of 114 respondents gave the rate of 1 as their
perception on their own poverty.
Figure 1: The number of respondents from each

cemetery who gave their perception on poverty
25
Number of Respondents
20
15 1 - Not Poor
2
10
3
5 4
5 - Poor
0
Bagbag Cemetery, North Cemetery, Manila Tugatog Cemetery,
Quezon City City Malabon City
Source: Data from Survey
The findings show that, out of the overall 114 respondents, while most them,
almost 50% of all of them, gave the rate of 3 as their perception of their own poverty, If
the each of the cemeteries were to be compared, it is noticeable that for every respondents
from each cemetery, the most numerous are the number of respondents who gave the rate
of 3 as their perception of their poverty. In fact, 50% of the total respondents from both
Tugatog Cemetery (40) and North Cemetery (38) gave the rate of 3; compared to the
respondents from Bagbag Cemetery (36), 44.44% or less than half of them gave the said
grade.
Their definition of poverty varies from one another, while there are some
commonalities from their answers, there are also prominent differences in their responses
from one another. Data from the survey shows, that in the case of the residents of Bagbag
37
Cemetery on the perception of their poverty situation, most of them gave that rating of 3
primarily for these line of thoughts: (1) two members, both the father and the mother are
employed; (2) respondents are employed, although income is low and irregular, their
budgets are still enough to buy food for subsistence; (3) they are able to eat at least three
times a day or sometimes even more; and (4) their sources of income are just enough for
the survival of their everyday lives. In the case of the North Cemetery, survey from the
data shows that the following are the reasons why the respondents from the said area
gave the rate of 3 as their perception of poverty: (1) the respondents have a present
employment, although the income from said livelihood are either irregular or just enough
for the needs of the family; (2) some identified that a single individual is the only one to
carry the burden of the household in earning money; and (3) that they are still able to at
least eat three times a day. As for the situation of the third area, this is the Tugatog
Cemetery; the respondents gave the rate of 3 because: (1) they are still able to eat and
there has not, more often than not, been a point in time that the respondents were not able
to eat at least once a day; (2) they define their situations as just enough, because there are
certain times when they are able to „win back‟ or „lose some‟; and (3) that the
respondents have employment, although they cannot be actually considered as a regular
employment with security of tenure.
From what could be observed from the reasons as to why the residents neither
believe that they are really poor or not, two predominant factors that come as a common
theme for the three cemeteries are: (1) income or employment, and (2) food or
subsistence. Most of the respondents define, from several unstructured interviews from
the residents, poverty roughly, as is based on their viewpoint or their perspectives, in
38
terms of subsistence and unemployment. Unlike more technical definitions of poverty
like living below the poverty threshold or the non-access to basic needs and basic social
services‟ the informal settlers in cemeteries limit themselves to defining poverty at a
subsistence or survival level and how income could be budgeted daily. The respondents
would not consider themselves relatively poor because they are still able to eat three
times a day at most, and once a day at least, no matter the source or amount. Likewise, it
does not matter if they are not employees receiving regular incomes; it is fine as long as
they are still able to earn an amount enough to sustain their basic survival needs daily.
While there are respondents who believe that they are relatively poor, those who
gave the rate of 4, or very much poor, those who gave the rate of 5, their responses
coincide with responses of the respondents who gave the rate of 3. But for these
respondents their responses were largely centered or gave more emphasis on
unemployment and subsequently the lack of adequate and regular income. Regardless, a
quarter of the overall respondents gave the rate of 5 as their perception of poverty, and
following those number of respondents are those respondents who gave the rate of 4.
Noticeably Bagbag Cemetery is actually the only cemetery whose respondents gave the
rating of 1.
1.2. Sufficiency of Income
As seen on Figure 2, most of the respondents believe that their individual/family‟s
incomes are insufficient for their needs. Most respondents gave the rate 1 as their
perceptions on the sufficiency of their incomes, 37 or 32.46% of 114 individuals believe
that what they/their family are earning is very much insufficient for their needs. Those
that gave the rates of 2 and 3 had 35 or 30.70% of 114 respondents respectively. 6 or
39
5.26% out 0f 114 respondents gave the rate of 4, and only 1 or 0.89% of 114 respondents
gave the rate of 5.
Figure 2: The number of respondents that rated the

sufficiency/insufficiency of their income
16
14
12
10
1 - Insufficient
8
2
6 3
4 4
2 5 - Sufficient
0
Bagbag Cemetery, North Cemetery, Tugatog Cemetery,
Quezon City Manila City Malabon City
From what can be seen on Figure 2, many of the respondents gave their income
sufficiency the rates of 1, 2, and 3, these data goes respectively for all the three
cemeteries. The lower the rating that the respondents gave the lower they receive their
sufficiency is, this means that most of the respondents from each the cemetery believe
that their income is more insufficient than they are sufficient. Most of the numbers of
respondents believe that their income or their family‟s incomes are very much not
sufficient for their needs.
Based on Figure 2, North Cemetery is the biggest contributor of the number of
respondents who believe that their incomes are relatively insufficient for their needs.
Also, it is noticeable from Figure 2 that Bagbag Cemetery, at least compared to the North
Cemetery and Tugatog Cemetery, relatively has the more respondents who believe or
40
perceive that their incomes are sufficient enough for their daily needs, and that it is the
only area in which respondents gave the rate of 5.
1.3. Inside vs. Outside of the Cemetery
Based on Figure 3, most of the 114 respondents gave the rate of 5 meaning that
they would prefer to live in the cemetery rather than outside of it, this is 39 or 34.21% of
the respondents. Of the overall respondents from the three public cemeteries 19 or
16.67% of them gave the rate of 1, 16 or 14.04% of them gave the rate of 2, 22 or 19.80%
of them gave the rate of 3, and 18 or 15.99 of the respondents gave the rate of 4 as their
perception if it is better to live in informal settlements inside or outside the cemetery.
Figure 3: The number of respondents who weighted

if it was better to live inside the cemetery or outside
the cemetery
18
16
14
12 1 - Better Outside
10 2
8 3
6
4
4
2 5 - Better Inside
0
Bagbag Cemetery, North Cemetery, Tugatog Cemetery,
Quezon City Manila City Malabon City
As seen on the data from Figure 3, most of the residents would very much prefer
to live inside the cemetery rather than outside of it. To note, from what can be observed,
most respondents from the North Cemetery and Tugatog Cemetery gave the rate of 5.
This means that most of them believe that it is better to live inside cemeteries if it is to be
compared to the informal settlements outside of the cemetery.
41
From the results of the survey the reason for this would be that many of the
residents from the cemeteries have been born and raised in the cemetery, and it is the
only place they have ever known. According to the profile or the basic background
information that was collected during the survey, 41 or 35.95% of the total 114
respondents have been born in the cemetery. And 27 of those respondents or 65.85%
of 41 are actually from the North Cemetery in Manila. The cemetery is the place where
they married, and where they had children. According to the respondents from the survey
and unstructured interviews, the primary reasons as to why the residents stay inside
cemeteries is that there is no rent in the cemetery, an occurring entirely different from
the case of Egypt wherein the cemetery dwellers pay rent to the owners of the crypts in
order to continue staying in their current residences. According from the responses in the
surveys, some of the respondents replied that the needs which the residents have to pay
for in the cemetery are food and water since their dwellings or residences are for free and
people even pay the respondents to watch over the graves.
The respondents believe that it is more comfortable to live inside cemeteries,
where it is much quieter and is somewhat a place where they believe is relatively safer.
„There is nothing to fear from the dead, they cannot harm us‟ as said by some
respondents. According to the respondents, they have a community inside cemeteries,
since it has such a closed of environment, everyone knows about everyone. Also one of
the main reasons why the residents prefer to stay inside cemeteries is that the cemetery is
where they get their source of income.
42
1.4. Assessment of Government‟s Performance
As seen on Figure 4, most of the respondents from the survey gave the
government a grade of 1, 37 or 32.46% out of 114 of them believed that the government
deserved to have the lowest of the 5 ratings. Followed by this are the number of
respondents which gave the government a grade of 3, 33 or 29.95% of 114 gave the
government a passing grade. The remaining grades given by the overall number of
respondents (114) are as follows, from the highest to the lowest: 21 or 18.42% of them
gave the government a grade of 2, 12 or 10.53% of them gave the government a grade of
4, and 11 of gave the government a grade of 5; which is the highest grade that can be
given by the respondents.
Figure 4: The number of respondents that rated the

government's performance from 1 to 5
18
16
14
12
10 1 - Fail
8 2
6 3
4 4
2 5 - Pass
0
Bagbag Cemetery, North Cemetery, Manila Tugatog Cemetery,
Quezon City City Malabon City
Most of the respondents gave the government a rather low grade. With which the
grading system is based on how the government served the people on the perspective of
the respondents. Those who gave the grade of 1, which is the lowest grade that could be
given, had consisted of 32.46% of the overall respondents. This is the highest percentage
43
or the largest number of responses among the respondents which gave the ratings.
Inversely, there were only 11 respondents, which constitutes of 9.65% of the total
respondents, which gave the government the highest grade of 5.
According to the responses from the survey, the respondents gave the government
low grades because they believe that they have not received anything substantial from the
government, if the grades were to be solely based on the service of the government to the
respondents. From what was collected from the surveys, over 60% of the total number of
respondents say that they have not actually received any form of assistance or help from
the government. In the perspective of the respondents even if they are the ones who really
needed the help of the government the most, it would seem that the government has not
been paying attention to problems and issues they are experiencing or are in their area.
Many of them believe that the government has done no service to them and that they are
inefficient in doing one of their primary functions, which is, ideally, speaking to be the
voices of the masses or the people.
2. INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT
For the following data on income and employment, 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3, out of the
overall 114 respondents, 33 or 28.95% of the replies from the respondents were not
applicable because they were unemployed. To mention, 11 or 33.33% of them are from
Bagbag Cemetery, 14 or 42.42% are from the North Cemetery, and 8 or 24.24% of these
unemployed respondents are from Tugatog Cemetery.
44
Figure 5: The number respondents from each cemetery who
answered the questions with regards to their Employment
35
30
25
20
Bagbag
15
North
10 Tugatog
5
0
Non-Regular Regular Near the Cemetery Far from the Not Cemetery- Cemetery-Based
Cemetery Based
2.1. Regularity of the Source of Income
According to Figure 5 most or over half of the respondents, 51 or 44.74% out of
114 respondents, replied that they do not receive their income regularly. And only 30 or
26.32% of the overall respondents receive their incomes regularly.
Most of the respondents do not receive their incomes regularly, meaning that over
50 respondents do not have regular or stable sources of income from which they can get
their wages. This implies that a majority of those who are employed do not actually have
regular employment, which implies that these respondents lack a stable source of income
that they could fall back on. From what can be seen on Figure 2, it is not unexpected that
a large number of the respondents believe that their incomes are highly insufficient and
relatively insufficient to meet every need of their households or as an individual.
Bagbag Cemetery has the most number of respondents that have incomes that
they regularly receive. This is compared to the North Cemetery and Tugatog Cemetery
whose total number of respondents only constitutes less than 20% of their respective
45
respondents. Over half of the respondents with regularly earning jobs, 53.33% of them
are respondents from Bagbag Cemetery. While the respondents in Tugatog Cemetery, as
shown in Figure 5, has the most number of respondents with non-regular incomes. Of the
respondents who do not receive their income regularly 25 or 49.02% of those 51
respondents are from Tugatog, which is also a large number.
Such findings are not entirely unexpected, given that employment to be found
inside the cemetery is seasonal at best. According to some unstructured interviews from
the respondents, there are workers inside the cemetery who are largely dependent on the
number of people that die a day or the corpses brought inside the cemetery to be buried.
2.2. Distance of the Work Place from the Cemetery
Figure 5 shows that 72 or 63.16% out of 114 respondents replied that their
workplaces were not far from the cemetery. While only 9 or 7.89% of these total number
of respondents said in the survey that their workplaces were far from the cemetery.
Tugatog Cemetery has relatively the largest number of respondents that said that their
workplace were not far from the cemetery, 40.28% of 72 respondents. Almost all of the
respondents from all the cemeteries have said that their workplaces were near the
cemetery, only a very small number of respondents replied that they work far from the
cemetery. From what was discussed in section 1.3 of the data presentation and analysis
portion, one of the prominent reasons as to why residents would prefer to live inside the
cemeteries, is because the cemeteries that they are respectively living in are not from
their places of employment. This is similar to the cases of other forms of informal
settlements in general.
46
2.3. Cemetery-Based Employment
Based on Figure 5, 27 or 23.68% out of 114 respondents replied that they do not
have cemetery-based jobs. Most of the overall respondents replied that they have
cemetery-based jobs, 54 or 47.37% out of 114 respondents.
The data from Figure 5 shows that almost half of the respondents have cemetery-
based jobs/employment. These jobs range from the kinds of employment that are directly
related to cemetery work or otherwise these are jobs that are located inside the cemetery.
From the survey, most of the respondents which have cemetery-based work are in fact
caretakers of graves or mausoleums. There are also those who work as street-sweepers in
the cemeteries, and those who make candles and sell flowers. There are also those who
get their incomes from making graves or „lapida‟ and those who carry caskets. There are
also tricycle drivers, particularly in the case of the residents in the North Cemetery, and
those who sell food and beverages inside the cemetery.
From the data gathered almost 40% of the 54 respondents that have cemetery-
based jobs are from the North Cemetery. Many of the respondents double as caretakers,
but 13 respondents from the survey in the North Cemetery directly replied that they are
caretakers for mausoleums and/or graves. The problem that comes with cemetery-based
employment, from what can be seen on section 2.2 of the question on income and
employment is the irregularity of such income. This is particularly pertaining to the jobs
which are actually related to cemetery work. These residents are heavily dependent on the
day of November 1 on getting their incomes.
47
3. BASIC NEEDS
3.1. SHELTER/HOUSING
Figure 6: The number of respondents that have the access

to a roof and electricity, and if they have been attempted to
be evicted from the cemetery
40
Proportion of Respondents
35
30
25
20 Bagbag
15 North
10 Tugatog
5
0
Has a Roof Has Electricity There Has Been Attempts of
Eviction
3.1.1. Roofless or Not
As seen from Figure 6, most of the respondents have roofs over their heads, 105
0r 92.11% of the number of respondents have this and only small number 9 respondents,
which constitute 7.89% of 114 respondents, are roofless. While all the Cemeteries have
more than 30 respondents each which have a roof in their housing or shelter in which
they are staying at in the cemetery.
The access to adequate housing is considered as a basic need. It is included in the
Minimum Basic Needs Approach as a Security Need; this means that it is an indicator of
having the things, or more correctly infrastructures, necessary in order to protect oneself
or their household from external hazards like natural disasters. Roofless-ness or
inadequate or dilapidated buildings are just some descriptions which often characterizes
informal settlement in the world.
48
3.1.2. Access to Electricity
Based on Figure 6, 83 or 72.81% of the total 114 respondents have access to
electricity; while 31 or 27.19 of the overall respondents have no access to electricity.
So in fact, most of the respondents do have access to electricity. But almost well
over a quarter of the source of this electricity are from illegal connections. This is
understandable because, Jumper cables are more affordable than an installment of an
actual legal meter. One of the reasons why informal settlers stay in their areas are the
cheaper living conditions, and such cases from the three public cemeteries are
manifestations of that. From the unstructured interviews from the respondents the public
cemetery that utilizes most of this illegal connection are the residents from Tugatog
Cemetery. And the cemetery that has the most number of respondents that pays the
Meralco for its electric services are the respondents of Bagbag Cemetery
According to the data retrieved from the survey half of these sources come from
Jumper cables. The residents in the three cemeteries use the following as their source of
electricity, from the highest percentage of use to the lowest percentage of use: (1) Jumper
(45%), (2) Meter or Meralco (35%), (3) Car Battery (9%), (4) these respondents are
connected with another friend‟s meter (7%), or (5) Sub-Meters (4%).
Noticeably, from what we can derive from Figure 6, relatively speaking Bagbag
Cemetery has the most number of residents which have access to electricity. There are
36.16% or 30 out of the 83 respondents that have electricity are from Bagbag. But in
reality, Tugatog Cemetery and Bagbag Cemetery are not far off with their number of
respondents which have electricity; they have 33.37% and 30.12% respectively.
49
3.1.3. Attempts of Eviction
Based on Figure 6, it can be seen that based on the reply of the respondents that
there have been many attempts of eviction because 72.81% of these respondents, which is
83 out of 114, have been tried to be evicted from the cemetery. While 31 or 27.19% of
the total respondents have said that they have not been tried to be evicted from the
cemetery.
As seen on Figure 6, there have been many attempted eviction in the three
cemeteries. While it is not a positive experience for the respondents, this is not
unexpected. There have been many attempt of evicting people from informal settlements,
as a whole. One of the definitions used to define informal settlements are settlements
which are on private land or government‟s lands that are not theirs and they have no titles
for.
Most of the evictions, primarily, were orders from the Barangay or the Local
Government, from what can be derived from the data from the survey and from
unstructured interviews from the residents. The following people or groups of individuals
are what constitute the ones who have tried to evict said respondents from the cemetery:
(1) the Barangay or the Local Government (48%), (2) the Cemetery‟s Administrators
(44%), and (3) the Tomb or Grave‟s Owners (8%).
Particularly in the case of the North Cemetery there have been many attempts to
evict them from the tombs, and most of the orders to evict them came from the Office of
the Mayor. Out of the 83 respondents that have been attempted to be evicted, 33 or
almost 40% of them are from the North Cemetery. According to the unstructured
interviews from the respondents in the North Cemetery, the number or frequency of the
50
evictions that they get are highly based on who is at power at that time. The mayor, in-
turn, is also the one to decide on whom the current administrator of the public cemetery
will be, and from his orders the cemetery‟s administrator would attempt to evict
residents.
In the case of Tugatog Cemetery, their neighboring cemetery, which is physically
right next to them, in Caloocan City, has already been completely removed of informal
settlers, some of the respondents were former residents of the Caloocan Cemetery who
moved in the Tugatog Cemetery when they were faced with eviction. While in the case of
the residents in Bagbag Cemetery, according to then unstructured interviews that were
conducted at the time of the survey, while there have been rumors of an eviction, it has
actually never gone through. The residents say that they have the organization in their
community to thank for this.
3.2. FOOD
3.2.1. Frequency of Eating and Budget for Food
From what was gathered from the results of the survey many residents of the
Cemetery can eat a complete „three times a day‟ meal that is 76 or 66.67% out of 114
respondents who replied that. Coming second to this are the respondents who replied that
there were times wherein they could only eat about two times a day (17.54%).
When the respondents were asked on how much they spent for food in a day, most
of them replied that they would normally spend exactly or more than 100 pesos but not
more than 300 a day for food. There have even been respondents that said that they were
dependent of the food that were given them because they could, at some days, not afford
food from themselves.
51
3.3. WATER AND SANITATION/HYGIENE
Figure 7: The number of respondents that have the physical

access to water and comfort rooms
30
25
20
15 Bagbag
North
10
Tugatog
0
Has Direct Access to Water Source Has Comfort Room
3.3.1. Distance from Water Source
From what can be seen in Figure 7, of the 114 overall respondents from each of
the cemeteries, 79 or 69.30% of those respondents replied that they do not have direct
access to their source of water, and only 35 or 30.70% of the respondents said that they
have direct access to their source of water.
Direct access to water is almost impossible to find inside the Cemetery. While,
from the data gathered from the survey, there are near places where the residents could
get water, not a lot of them have actual direct access to water from Maynilad or Nawasa
for example. When it is compared to such there are only a small number respondent
which actually have access to previously said water sources. There are places outside of
the Cemetery where residents can get their water source. It is not difficult to get water but
it is difficult to discern whether or not it is actually a safe water source.
52
The surveys show that many residents in Bagbag Cemetery actually have direct
access to running water. Specifically 27 or 71.05% of the 38 respondents in Bagbag have
direct access to Nawasa/Maynilad. Which is the most out of the other two cemeteries,
especially compared to Tugatog Cemetery were virtually not one out of the 40
respondents have direct access to running water. The water in Tugatog comes from a
water pump that is outside the cemetery, a neighbor from outside the cemetery that has
running water and sells them cheaply for the residents inside the cemetery. While in the
North Cemetery, there is actually a deep well inside the cemetery, and there are a small
number of them which have direct access to running water; for their drinking water, there
are people who go around the cemetery and sells gallons of mineral water.
The accessibility to clean and potable water, is of course a basic right, and it is
one of the primary issues, according to literature, concerning informal settlement in urban
areas. Urban cities in developing countries are generally characterized by over-
congestion or overcrowding, these makes the living conditions of urban residents more
vulnerable to different types of pollution, including water pollution. The access to safe
drinking water is not by itself a single predicament; the non-access to clean water can
actually be the root to the increase of health hazards or sickness in areas of informal
settlements and communities.
3.3.2. Direct Access to Comfort Room
Figure 7 shows that out of the 114 overall respondents from each of the
cemeteries, 54 or 47.37% of them have access to their own comfort rooms, and 60
respondents, which is the 52.63% of 114 respondents do not have access to their own
respondents.
53
From what can be seen in Figure 7, in comparing each of the three cemeteries the
bulk of the respondents which actually have direct access to their own comfort rooms are
the respondents from Bagbag Cemetery. Of the 54 who answered positively, half of them
or specifically 51.85% of them were from Bagbag. Almost the same could also be said to
Tugatog Cemetery, where it is actually in reverse. Of the respondents that said that they
have no direct access to their own comfort rooms literally a half or 50%, which is 30 out
of 60 respondents, of them were from the Tugatog Cemetery.
While some replied that there is a creek near them, like in Bagbag Cemetery, so
there is no great need for actual comfort rooms. There were also respondents, like the
respondents from Tugatog Cemetery, which turn to their friends or even some offices to
borrow their comfort rooms, while there were also respondents that would say that they
have no choice but to look for quiet place to use as a comfort room. If there is no actual
access to comfort rooms in their mausoleums, the respondents from the North Cemetery
turn to their local cemetery for assistance.
54
4. BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES
4.1. HEALTH
Figure 8: The number of respondents that have the access

to hospitals and the various forms of medical assistance
from the government.
35
30
25
20
Bagbag
15
North
10
Tugatog
5
0
Prioritizes Hospital Medical Missions BHW Have Visited Free Service From
Visits CHO
4.1.1. Prioritization of Going to the Hospital
Based on Figure 8, 28 or 24.56% of respondents said that they would not
prioritize going check-ups yearly, while 86 respondents or 75.44% respondents said the
opposite. If each of the three cemeteries were to be compared to one order almost 80% of
all of the residents in each cemetery would prioritize yearly health check-ups. This would
imply that health still remains to be one of the most important and desired basic services
in the country. While the respondents that have answered that they would prefer having
check-ups rather than not having had one, not all of said respondents actually have done
so. In terms of the frequency of the number of respondents who wish to be able to have
annual check-us, some of them revealed that although they would wish to go to hospitals,
they are financially unable to do so. Hence there are respondents, at least 29 of them
55
confirmed, who have said that they would only go to hospitals if only the situation was
dire enough for them to do so.
4.1.2. Medical Missions from the Government
As Figure 8 shows, out of the 114 respondents 22 or 19.30% of them said that
there have not been medical mission in their areas, while most of them, a number of 92
respondents, which is 80.70% of the total number respondents, affirmed that there have
been medical missions in their respective areas.
Over half of the total number of respondents from each cemetery claims that there
have been in fact medical missions around their areas. If the three cemeteries were to be
put beside one another, it would seem that the respondents from Tugatog Cemetery, at
least relatively speaking, had the most number of respondents which said that there have
not been medical mission in their areas. There were 50% of the 22 respondents that said
that there have not been medical missions in the said area.
4.1.3. Involvement of Barangay Health Workers
As what is shown in Figure 8, Most of the respondents held that there have been
health workers from the Barangay who have visited their areas, that is 88 or 77.19% out
0f 114 respondents who said that. While there were 26 respondents, 22.81% who have
said the otherwise.
According to the data shown on Figure 14, over 70% of respondents have replied
that there have been Barangay Health Workers who have visited inside the cemetery.
According to the responses from the survey, most of these Barangay Health Workers
would give out vitamins to the residents, there are those that offer to weigh and check-up
children and pregnant women. If the three cemeteries were to be compared side by side, it
56
is noticeable that for the residents in the North Cemetery and Bagbag Cemetery over 80%
of the respondents replied that there have been Barangay Health Workers that have
visited their areas. But if it is to be compared to Tugatog Cemetery, there were only 60%
of the 40 respondents that said that Health Workers from the Barangay offered some form
of service of them.
4.1.4. Services from City Health Office
As shown on Figure 8, out of all of the 114 respondents: 62 or 54.39% of them
have not received free services from the City Health Office, while 52 or 45.61% of them
said that they have received free service from the City Health Office.
The responses from the survey have somewhat mixed results. The respondents
were almost evenly divided into two for the ones who have received something free in
the City Health Office and those who have not received anything from the City Health
Office. This is the same result if the three cemeteries were to be considered and
compared to each other‟s respondents‟ input if they have received free services from the
City Health Office, roughly half of them agreed that they have received free services
from said office and roughly also a half of them denied this.
57
4.2. EDUCATION
4.2.1. Highest Level of Education Attained
Figure 9: The number of respondents and their

highest educational attainments
35
30
25
20
15 Bagbag
North
10
Tugatog
5
0
Pre-School Elementary High School Technical College
Vocational
As shown on Figure 9, the highest educational attainments of the overall 114
respondents are as follows: 1 or 0.88% of them reached pre-school, 31 or 27.19% of them
reached elementary, 66 or 57.89% of the reached high school, 7 or 6.14% of them took
technical vocational classes, and 9 or 7.89% of them reached college. All in all, a
substantial amount of the respondents had high school as their highest level of
educational attainment. If the cemeteries were to be dissected from each of its parts, it
can be shown from the data above, the highest level of educational attainment in the
North Cemetery and Tugatog Cemetery is in face high school, especially in the North
Cemetery wherein it had the most number of respondents that has the high school as their
highest educational attainment, 43.94% out of said 66 respondents were from the North
Cemetery.
58
The reason in which why the respondents didn‟t continue their education is
largely attributed to financial issues or problems. Not many of the respondents admit that
they could actually afford to be sent to college. That is 50% of the overall respondents, at
least 43 of them, claim the financial angle as to why they did not continue their
education. From what can be derived from this, education is still rather costly, that is why
it is more of a privilege than an actual basic right. The following reason as to why the
respondents have not continued and finished their schooling is because of jobs or
employments. Almost 40% of the respondents said that they had to look for a job earlier
than expected in order to raise money and help with the income in the family. According
to the data from the survey, the other reasons why the respondents cannot finish their
schooling are because of family problems, this constitutes 10% of the reasons as to why
the respondents did not finish their schooling. Some of the parents of the respondents
have died early, leaving no choice for the younger ones to work in order to earn money,
and it also may be the fact that the respondent married too early and also perhaps even
had children early.
59
Figure 10: The number of respondents that would continue
their education, and those that have children in school.
Proportion of Respondents 30
25
20
15 Bagbag
North
10
Tugatog
5
0
Will Continue Education Has Already Graduated from Has Children in School
College
4.2.2. Continuing Education
According to the data based on Figure 10, out of a total of 114 number
respondents, 41 or 35.96% of them said that if they were ever given a choice to continue
their schooling then they would not take it, 67 or 58.77% replied that they would wished
to continue schooling if they were given a chance.
Education is a part of the enabling needs ore the needs that are required in order to
empower individuals in society. The respondents who replied that they would continue
their education, reason out that the reason they want to continue their education is that it
is something of a dream for them, and there is the notion or almost a consensus of idea of
the respondents who continue their education was that an education with a completed
degree with lead to the attainment of more better and higher paying jobs. While those
who did not wish to continue their education reasoned out that earning more money in the
present is more important than studying, there is a stigma that they are already too old to
60
study, and that these respondents would prefer it more if it were their children that had
been granted the privilege to complete their studies.
4.2.3. Children Sent to Schools
As seen on the data on Figure 10, most of the respondents are parents who have
children with which they are sending to schools, there are 60 respondents who fall under
this category they consist of 52.63% of the total president. There are 54 or 47.37% out of
114 respondents that are said that they do not have children in school. This means that
they are either single, they do not have children with their partners, or their children are
still too young for school.
For households with children, the distance of their shelter or residence is
important for them. From the data derived from the responses of the respondents from the
survey, roughly 80% of the respondents who send their children to school replied that the
schools that their children were going to were near or not far from the Cemetery.
Particularly in Bagbag Cemetery, the nearest elementary school is actually right beside
the cemetery and this is where most of the students who are sent to school in Bagabag
Cemetery attend in. In the cases of Tugatog Cemetery and the North Cemetery, both
public cemeteries are situated in urban areas, and educational institutions are not actually
that far from said cemeteries.
61
5. GOVERNMENT
Figure 11: The number of respondents who have been

given help/assistance and offered relocation by the
government.
18
16
14
12
10
Bagbag
8
North
6
Tugatog
4
2
0
Has Been Helped By The Government Has Been Offered Relocation
5.1. Government Assistance
Based on the above Figure, 74 or 64.91% out of 114 respondents answered that
they have not yet received any form of help from the government, and 40 or 35.09% of
them answered that they have received some form of help from the government.
Out of 40 respondents answered that they have received some form of help from
the government most of them are from the North Cemetery, 16 or 40% of them are from
the said cemetery. This is probably because the Manila North Cemetery is one of the
most, if not the most, documented, through various types of media like television, videos,
articles, and through paper, case of informal settlers living in Cemeteries. Since their case
is one of the most prominent, it is probably why there are more people who have received
some form of assistance from the government there.
As what was derived from the responses from the survey, the assistance from the
government varies from each other. Most of the respondents who have actually been
62
helped by the government have been given (1) financial assistance through the form of
the Pantawid Pamilya Program or the 4Ps. Another form of the government‟s financial
assistance is through a program called the Homeless, wherein the respondents were given
money for rent that would be used to rent a place outside of the cemetery, there have also
been (2) job opportunities given to the respondents like becoming a street sweeper or a
garbage collector. Other forms of government assistance would be from (3) relief and a
small number of medical or health related assistances (4) services in health centers and
medical missions.
But as seen on Figure 11, a majority of the respondents from each cemetery have
said that they have not yet actually received any form of help from the government. Out
of 74 respondents who answered that they have not yet received any form of help from
the government, roughly 30%, more or less, of the respondents from each cemetery,
respectively, have said that they have not yet received any assistance from the
government.
It is not much difficult to comprehend as to why data from Figure 4 shows that
many numbers of respondents gave the government a low grade. Given that many of
them have not actually received substantial services from the said institution.
Government assistance and participation at the community level is much lacking. As one
institution that should be dedicated to serving the people for the benefit the citizens of the
country, assistance, as far as the data from Figure 1 shows, that they are still not be able
to equally spread out their means or policies and assistances to alleviate the situation of
poverty and solving the issues on slum settlement
63
5.2. Offers of Relocation from the Government
As seen or shown in Figure 11, 104 or 91.23% of 114 respondents replied that
they have not yet received any offers of relocation from the government. 10 or 8.77% of
114 respondents replied that they have received offers of relocation from the government.
More than a majority of the respondents, over 90% of the total number of overall
respondents, have not received offers of relocation If the three cemeteries were to be
compared each of the respondents over 80% of the said respondents from their respective
cemeteries have said that they have actually not been given the option of an area for
relocation. Relatively speaking, at least when the responses from the three cemeteries
were compared, 70% of the 10 respondents which said that there have been offers of
relocation by the government were from Bagbag Cemetery.
This is an issue of contention because; the living conditions of informal settlers
are to be improved generally through the use of slum upgrading or relocation. And more
or less, one of the most viable solutions in order to solve the issue of having informal
settlements inside cemeteries is through the relocation of residents to more sustainable
areas. The reason this is happening is not because the residents lack the initiative to move
from the cemetery, it is the lack of assistance and proper long-term planning by the
government.
Based on the data from Figure 3, there are also those individuals who cannot
decide if it is either better to live outside or inside the cemetery, gave the rate of 3; and
those who believe that it is better to live outside of the cemetery, gave the rate of either 1
or 2. According to the responses gathered from the surveys, the informal settlements
acknowledged that cemeteries were never actually intended to be the permanent residents
64
of living beings, but they really had no choice but to go there. In some unstructured
interviews with the rest of the respondents, there are also those who believe that
compared to other forms of informal settlements, cemeteries are believed to be relatively
better than that of the others in terms of security because public cemeteries are often
closed environments and there are even such cemeteries which have a curfew.
6. CEMETERY LIFE INDEX
The overall living conditions of each of the cemeteries were stated, and then
compared and contrasted, and as well as assessed. The Cemetery Life Index or the CLI
was used to quantitatively assess the living conditions being experienced by the informal
settlers in cemeteries. This is through assigning scores between 1 to 5, 5 being the highest
score which indicates that the living condition in that cemetery is better, or 1 being the
lowest score which indicates that the living conditions in that cemetery is much worse
than the other. As seen on Table 1, the overall living conditions of all the cemeteries were
assesses. And as for the disparities between cemeteries, data from Table 2, Table 3, and
Table 4 were compared and contrasted.
6.1. Cemetery Life Index (Overall Respondents: 114)
Table 1: The Overall Average of the Cemetery Life Index of Three Public Cemeteries in
Metro Manila (CLI = 2.86)
Public Poverty Perception 2.52 2.86
Cemeteries, Employment Income 1.57 1.95
Metro Manila Regular 2.16
Enough 2.11
65
Housing Residency/Length 2.48 3.69
Roof 4.68
Electricity 3.91
Food Frequency 4.26 3.47
Amount 2.67
Water Source 2.23 2.56
CR 2.90
Health Hospital 4.02 3.64
Barangay Health 4.09
Workers
Free Service 2.83
Education Level 2.93 3.02
Children 3.11
Government Help 2.37 2.06
Relocation 1.35
Grade 2.47
From what can be seen on Table 1, the overall CLI of the three cemeteries is 2.86.
This is relatively low given that theoretically the highest value of the CLI should be 5,
given that each indicator that were used in order to make the CLI were ranged from 1 to
5, 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. This overall CLI does not even reach half
of that.
66
With this, it could be said that the overall living conditions of the informal settlers
living inside cemeteries is lacking. From the provision of the basic needs, water and
sanitation, and electricity as an indicator of housing or shelter being the most lacking,
from what can be based on Table 1. The same could be said with the basic social
services, like education; government assistance and offers of relocations; and income and
employment.
6.2. Bagbag Cemetery, Quezon City (Respondents: 36)
Table 2: The Overall Average of the Cemetery Life Index in Bagbag Cemetery, Quezon
City (B-CLI = 3.32)
Bagbag Poverty Perception 2.83 3.23
Cemetery, Employment Income 2 2.30
Quezon City Regular 2.78
Enough 2.11
Roof 4.78
Electricity 4.33
Amount 3
CR 4.11
Workers
67
Free Service 3
Children 3.56
Government Help 2 1.99
Relocation 1.78
Grade 2.19
As seen on Table 2, Bagbag Cemetery has a relatively higher CLI than those on
Table 3, Tugatog Cemetery, and Table 4, North Cemetery. This is not unexpected given
that, if it were to be based on Table 2, the average points of 5 out of 8 indicators are well
over the half of 5, one of them even reach 4 points.
With this, it could be said that Bagbag Cemetery, comparing it to the life indices
of the respondents in Tugatog Cemetery and North Cemetery; the respondents from
Bagbag have marginally better living conditions than those of the other two public
cemeteries. This means that out of the three cemeteries, it could be said that Bagbag
Cemetery has relatively the best living condition.
6.3. Tugatog Cemetery, Malabon City (Respondents: 40)
Table 3: The Overall Average of the Cemetery Life Index in Tugatog Cemetery,
Malabon City (T-CLI = 2.62)
Tugatog Poverty Perception 2.3 2.62
Cemetery, Employment Income 1.45 1.87
Malabon City Regular 2
Enough 2.15
68
Roof 4.4
Electricity 3.8
Amount 2.45
CR 2
Barangay Health 3.4
Workers
Free Service 2.8
Education Level 3 2.9
Children 2.8
Relocation 1.2
Grade 2.58
As can be seen from Table 3, the life index of the respondents in Tugatog
Cemetery is very low. If this index was to be compared with Table 2, the data from
Bagbag Cemetery, and Table 4, the data from North Cemetery, the respondents from
Tugatog Cemetery actually has the lowest CLI, which is only 2.62, which is below the
half of 5. This implies that out of the three cemeteries, the residents from Tugatog
Cemetery have relatively the worst living conditions.
69
6.4. North Cemetery, Manila City (Respondents: 38)
Table 4: The Overall Average of the Cemetery Life Index in North Cemetery, Manila
City (N-CLI = 2.77)
North Poverty Perception 2.45 2.77
Cemetery, Employment Income 1.29 1.70
Manila City Regular 1.74
Enough 2.08
Roof 4.90
Electricity 3.63
Amount 2.58
Water Source 1 1.84
CR 2.68
Workers
Free Service 2.68
Children 3
70
Relocation 1.11
Grade 2.61
As Table 4 shows the North Cemetery also has a low life index, with its CLI of
2.77. Compared from the data on Table 2 and Table 3, the living conditions in the North
Cemetery is not as good as the living conditions in Bagbag Cemetery but is at least better
than that of the living condition in Tugatog Cemetery.
X. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
In comparing and contrasting the living conditions of the three cemeteries, (1)
Bagbag Cemetery in Quezon City, (2) North Cemetery in Manila City, and (3) Tugatog
Cemetery in Malabon City; the situation in which they are all living in are at some points
the same, and are at some points relatively different.
In assessing the sources of income of the respondents, based on Table 1, it is
shown that most informal settlers in cemeteries have been relatively earning low wages.
It is not only that their wages are low; their sources of income could also be hardy
considered as a regular employment. As seen on Figure 5, almost half of the respondents
have irregular sources of income. This could be attributed to the fact that almost 50% of
employment that the respondents have are cemetery based and are actually types of jobs
that are directly related to cemetery work. While one of the primary reasons on why
informal settlers stay inside cemeteries is that their places of work are near from the
cemetery, this also disadvantageous. Given that several residents reveal that many of
71
them predominantly get money on the day of November 1, they are also highly dependent
of the number of corpses that enter their cemeteries.
The non-access or access of the respondents from their basic survival needs, like
shelter, food and water, is half and half. The shelters of the residents are more often
mausoleums, both small and big, at least in the two cemeteries Manila and Malabon City.
In the case of Bagbag Cemetery, the residents there live in actual homes behind the
apartment styled tombs of the said cemetery so their situations are rather different, but the
only entrance or exit of the said cluster of houses are the cemetery‟s gates. While many
respondents are not in fact roofless, from what can be seen on Figure 6, and while, any
have access to electricity; most of the sources of this electricity are from illegal
connections. There is no security of shelter when it comes to informal settlements; there
have been many who have attempted to evict the respondents from their residences, most
of the orders coming from the barangay or the local government unit.
The latter two‟s sources of each need are actually available both inside and in the
near vicinities of the cemeteries. Most of the respondents are still able to eat three times a
day, but even then the cost of food still remains to be undesired. With the increase in the
prices of products, there are some respondents who are dependent on charity from other
individuals for food. When it comes to water, the access to safe drinking or potable water
is questionable at best. From what can be seen on Figure 7, there are not many who have
direct access to running water, in fact almost 70% of the respondents do not actually have
direct access to running water. And more than half of the respondents do not have access
to their own comfort rooms. Majority of them do not have proper sanitation facility
which is directly accessible to them
72
With regard to enabling needs, most of the respondents managed to reach high
school as their highest form of educational attainment. But if it were to be scrutinized,
there are far larger numbers of them that have not yet finished or discontinued their
schooling, which is one of the indicator used in enabling needs. More than 90% of the
respondents have not gone to college. And the reason as to why their schooling or
education had been discontinued had largely been attributed to the lack of financial
resources.
While there have been specific governments projects aimed to tackle on or take
care of the issues on slums, and the poor‟s access or non-access to their basic needs and
basic social services, not all of the respondents have received such assistance or help
from the government. Talking about medical assistance offered by the government, from
what can be seen in Figure 8, by basing the percentage of respondents who have said that
there have been health-related workers and medical missions, there have been check-ups
from the said practitioners. But a half of them have also said that they have not received
any help from the City Health Office.
Now referring to the general forms or kinds of government assistance, financial,
employment or any types of help; basing on Figure 11, over 60% of the 114 respondents
said that they have not received any form of help from the government. And over 90 of
the total number of respondents said that there have no offers of relocation to them so far.
This goes to imply that although they are in need of assistance, the government‟s projects
have yet to reach the said residents.
In ranking the living conditions of each of the cemeteries in order to assess these
three cemeteries: to summarize the finding from the survey, and from what can be
73
derived on Tables 2, 3, and 4; it is actually Bagbag Cemetery (CLI = 3.23) that has the
best living conditions compared to the other two cemeteries, it is followed by the North
Cemetery (CLI = 2.77), and lastly, at least compared to the other two Tugatog Cemetery
(CLI = 2.62) comparably has the worst living conditions of the three public cemeteries.
As shown from the previous figures, Bagbag Cemetery had the most number of
respondents that had access to most of the basic needs that was mentioned before, and
Tugatog Cemetery has noticeably some of the larger number of respondents which do not
have these basic needs.
With the overall CLI of the three cemeteries being only 2.86, from what can be
seen on Table 1, it can be said that the informal settlers living inside the said cemeteries
indeed do not have proper access to their basic needs and their basic social services. The
provisions on safe and potable water, along with proper sanitation facilities are most
lacking. Adding onto this is the irregularity of employment and low wages being
experienced by the residents of the three cemeteries.
With that being said, all in all the living conditions of the residents in cemeteries
are certainly lacking, and the incomes which most respondents perceive to be insufficient
are not actually enough for purchasing their everyday needs. Their physical access or
perhaps the ownership to certain necessities like survival needs and security needs are
unavailable, like the access to running water, the access to individual sanitation facilities
or comfort rooms, and the legal access to electricity and the like. Government assistance
is generally lacking and remains to be far in between and this is what the respondents
sorely need.
74
XI. CONCLUSION
Metro Manila or the National Capital Region or NCR is the Philippines‟ urban
center. It is the home to many of the country‟s total population and highly urbanized
cities. Such characteristics which define the Metropolitan Manila area have both negative
and positive implications. With the rise of urbanization follows the rise of poverty in
urban areas. Over-congestion and with the sub-par living conditions that the poor masses
are forced to experience, it is not surprising that the proliferation of informal settlements
inside the country has increased by leaps and bounds.
It is ironic that although the areas the case study were conducted in were
considered as „highly urbanized‟, one of them being the capital of the Philippines, City of
Manila, and the other the largest and one of the most populous cities in the country,
Quezon City. It is with no doubt that such terms do not, in reality, translate to positive
connotations of growth and improvement. Poverty remains to be one of the most rampant
and paramount issues inside of the country. It is not only an economic or a monetary
concept, but also an encompassing and multi-faceted one which include social, political,
cultural, and environmental dimensions. The non-access to basic needs and basic social
services, basically a better quality of life, is what is being experienced by not just the
cemetery dwellers but the informal settlers living in poverty as a whole.
Basic needs are just like poverty in a sense that the said basic needs do not only
pertain to subsistence needs but also enabling needs, or the basic social services in order
to empower individuals and increase their participation in their communities or the
society, and security needs, which the lack of said need is one of the main issues tackled
by slum dwellers.
75
XII. RECOMMENDATIONS
The government, as the primary force for the creation of programs and policies in
the Philippines should take paramount action on the issues or concerns faced by its
constituents. The poor remain vulnerable to many possible negative externalities, man-
made or natural. The concept of poverty and informal settlements as well are multi-
dimensional, with that being said, the issues concerning said concepts should be tackled
at all sides of the spectrum.
The important question to be tackled is „What is needed in order to alleviate
poverty?‟ Based on the replies from the survey or coming from the respondents, they
severely need government assistance. This is not only in a financial or monetary form of
assistance such is just one of the possible solutions, but it is not the only solution in order
to alleviate the living conditions of the poor. As what was constantly mentioned before,
poverty is not only an economic concept. Government assistance is precursory, but up to
what extent and what direction should it take? It should be a kind of assistance which is
sustainable that of which extends or would benefit the government‟s constituents in the
long run. While financial assistance would be appreciated by the urban poor, it is not a
long-term or sustainable solution in solving the plights of the poor. Such is a mere Band-
Aid solution and not a permanent response.
One of the things that of which the residents of each of the public cemeteries need
is really relocation. The kind of relocation that is needed is not just putting these
settlements in far flung places just to get them to leave their current areas of residence.
But a relocation that is physically not much far from the basic institutions that are very
much needed for a functioning society. They are not asking for something lavish, one
76
respondent even mentioned that even if they were to be relocated in an apartment styled
building than it would still be fine to move outside the cemetery. But just somewhere or
someplace that is not far from the markets, from schools, from hospitals, from sources of
employment, and areas that are not so heavily disaster prone that one storm could destroy
their new relocation site. The residents or informal settlers from the cemeteries, and
perhaps not just those who are from cemeteries, are not asking for much.
Other than a sustainable form of government assistance and relocation, a most
important thing to consider, which the government and/or the policymakers sometimes
forgets is that public participation is a must. The ones who are experiencing said
impoverished condition should know best on what they actually need. Policies cannot just
be enforced on the fly, it must go through a comprehensive planning process, taking into
account each and every of the variables that could affect or influence a person‟s state of
living. To mention, on the part of the residents or the informal settlers, a movement for
solidarity and volleying for their rights would also be recommended. As everybody has
human rights, these people belonging to the urban poor are also not exempt to that.
Tackling the issues at the grassroots level is one of the aspects of policy-making
or making of programs that the government should undertake. In other words, a bottom-
up approach to handling the issues or problems in informal settlements or alleviating
poverty in general is the involvement of a community at a local level before going on to a
national-scale. What is needed is the community engagement and community
participation. On the part of the government or the concerned agencies, involving those
that would be involved in the planning process would be a great advantage for the poor.
This is to empower them in a sense to include them in the political process, not just
77
through the means of voting but also enveloping or embracing their constituents in the
planning process as well. The inputs of the poor will be what makes policy making more
comprehensive in nature.
Also as what was said before, needs are not just material in nature but enabling as
well. Taking into account these enabling needs are the first steps towards increasing the
opportunity and participation of the community. Empowering an individual and/or their
household is a good solution to help the informal settlers in improving or alleviating their
present situations. To empower is to provide those concerned with the means or the
instruments or the tools that would enable them or help them to break out from the cycle
of poverty that they are trapped in. This would include the provision of basic social
services, like for example education and perhaps health, should be available and should
be made affordable for the majority of the masses.
Government participation and also public participation going hand in hand are
what would be the solution in tackling the issue on informal settlements and the poverty
they are experiencing. It is a two way process, with more prompting for the government
to include the masses in the development process, and to go through with their promises
to their constituents.
78
XIII. REFERENCES
Arimah, B. T. (2001, January). Slums as Expressions of Social Exclusion: Explaining
The Prevalence of Slums in African Countries. United Nations Human Settlement
Programme. Rerieved from https://www.oecd.org/dev/pgd/46837274.pdf
Asian Development Bank. (2009). Poverty in the Philippines: Causes, Constraints, and
Opportunities. Philippines. Rerieved from
http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/27529/poverty-philippines-
causes-constraints-opportunities.pdf
Asian Development Bank. (2011, April). Inclusive Cities. Rerieved from
http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/29053/inclusive-cities.pdf
Asselin, L.-M., & Dauphin, A. (2001, January). Poverty Measurement: A Conceptual
Framework. Canadian Centre for International Studies and Cooperation. Rerieved
from https://www.pep-net.org/sites/pep-
net.org/files/typo3doc/pdf/asselin/Poverty.pdf
Ballesteros, M. M. (2010, December). Linking Poverty and the Environment: Evidence
from Slums in Philippine Cities. Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
Rerieved from http://dirp4.pids.gov.ph/ris/dps/pidsdps1033.pdf
Cockburn, J. C., Romero, J. Q., Lucci, P., & Lenhardt, A. (2015, June ). ON THE PATH
TO PROGRESS: Improving living conditions in Peru‟s slum settlements.
Overseas Development Institute. Rerieved from
https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-
files/9666.pdf
79
Cruz, J. E. (2010, October). Estimating Informal Settlers in the Philippines. Rerieved
from http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ncs/11thncs/papers/invited%20papers/ips-
15/03_estimating%20informal%20settlers%20in%20the%20philippines.pdf
Del Rosario, R. P. (2002). The Minimum Basic Needs Approach to Development: The
Davao del Norte Innovation. Philippine Journal of Public Administration.
Rerieved from
http://lynchlibrary.pssc.org.ph:8081/bitstream/handle/0/1646/19_The%20Minimu
m%20Basic%20Needs%20Approach%20to%20Development.pdf?sequence=1
Fahmi, W. S., & Sutton, K. (2014, November). Living with the Dead: Contested Spaces
and the Right to Cairo's Inner-City Cemeteries. Rerieved from
http://sciforum.net/conference/wsf-4/paper/2444
Foster, J. E. (1998, May). Absolute Versus Relative Poverty. American Economic
Association. Rerieved from http://www.ophi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/ssFoster-
1998.pdf
Hodal, K. (2013, May 27). Manila is a Hotbed of Progressive Housing Solutions: A
City‟s Quest to Build a Better Informal Settlement. The Rockefeller Foundation.
Rerieved from https://nextcity.org/features/view/slum-lab-manilas-quest-to-build-
a-better-informal-settlement
Lagman, M. S. (2012). Informal Settlements as Spatial Outcomes of Everyday Forms of
Resistance: The Case of Three Depressed Communities in Quezon City.
Philippine Social Sciences Review. Rerieved from
http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/pssr/article/view/3481/320
80
Olajide, O. (2010). Urban Poverty and Environmental Conditions in Informal Settlements
of Ajegunle, Lagos Nigeria. REAL CORP 2010. Rerieved from
http://www.corp.at/archive/CORP2010_148.pdf
Panadero, A. A. (2004, October). Local Government Monitoring Tools for the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Rerieved from
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ncs/9thncs/papers/mdg_LocalGovernment.pdf
Philip, D., & Rayhan, I. (2004, November). Vulnerability and Poverty: What are the
causes and how are they related? ZEF, Bon. Rerieved from
http://www.zef.de/fileadmin/downloads/forum/docprog/Termpapers/2004_3a_Phi
lip_Rayan.pdf
Philippine Human Rights Information Centre. (2014, September 6). From „squatters‟ into
„informal settlers‟. Rerieved from http://philrights.org/from-squatters-into-
informal-settlers/
Reyes, C. M., & Valencia, L. E. (2004, July). Poverty Reduction Strategy and Poverty
Monitoring: Philippine Case Study. Rerieved from
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPAME/Resources/Country-
studies/philippines_povmonitoring_casestudy.pdf
Sen, A. (2000, June). Social Exclusion: Concept, Application, and Scrutiny. Asian
Development Bank. Rerieved from
http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/29778/social-exclusion.pdf
UN Habitat. (2009). The Right to Adequate Housing. Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights. Rerieved from
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FS21_rev_1_Housing_en.pdf
81
XIV. APPENDICES
Appendix A: Questionnaire from the Survey
Questionnaire
Buhay Sementeryo: An Assessment and Comparison of the Living Conditions of Informal
Settlers in Three Public Cemeteries in Metro Manila
Pangalan: _______________________________________________________________
Edad: _______________ Kasarian: Lalaki Babae
Ano ang address na inyong ginagamit? ________________________________________
Kayo ba ay naka-rehistro sa civil registry?

 Oo
 Hindi
Kasama niyo bang naninirahan ang iyong pamilya sa loob ng sementeryo?

 Oo
 Hindi
Ilan kayong naninirahan dito? ____________________________________________
Kayo ba ay may birth certificate? Ang mga anak ninyo?

 Meron
 Wala
Sa inyong pananaw, masasabi niyo bang kayo ay naghihirap ngayon? (Bigyan ito ng
ranggo, 1 ang pinkamababa/hindi sumasangayon at 5 ang
pinakamataas/sumasangayon)
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
Bakit niyo ito nasabi? ___________________________________________________
TRABAHO at SAHOD
1. Ano ang inyong mga pinagkakakitaan? __________________________________
82
__________________________________________________________________
2. Magkano ang inyong kita dito? ________________________________________
3. Regular niyo bang nakukuha ang sweldo o kita mo?

 Oo
 Hindi
4. Malayo ba ang lugar na inyong pinagtatrabahuhan sa sementeryo?

 Oo
 Hindi
5. Dito ba, sa sementeryo, kinukuha ang inyong kinabubuhay?

 Oo
 Hindi
6. Sa inyong palagay, sapat ba ang kita niyo para sa inyong pamilya at mga
pangangailangan? (Bigyan ito ng ranggo, 1 ang pinkamababa/hindi
sumasangayon at 5 ang pinakamataas/sumasangayon)
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
TIRAHAN
1. Gaano katagal na kayong naninirahan sa loob ng sementeryo? _______________
2. Saan kayo dating nakatira bago kayo tumira dito? _________________________
3. Bakit kayo namiling manirahan at manatili sa sementeryo? __________________

__________________________________________________________________
4. Ang inyo bang tinutulugan ay may bubong?

 Meron
 Wala
Ano ang inyong ginagawa kapag malakas ang ulan? _______________________
5. Mayroon ba kayong kuryente o napagkukunan ng kuryente?
83
 Meron
 Wala
Saan niyo nakukuha ito? _____________________________________________
6. Kayo ba ay nagbabayad o nagre-renta sa lugar na inyong pinaninirahan?

 Oo
 Hindi
Magkano ang inyong binabayad o renta? ________________________________
7. Kayo ba ay tinangka ng paalisin mula sa sementeryo?

 Oo
 Hindi
Sino ang mga napapaalis sa inyo?
 Baranggay/Lokal na Gobyerno
 May-ari ng nitso
 Tagapamahala ng Sementeryo
 Iba:____________________
8. Sa iyong paningin, mas mainam bang manirahan nalang sa loob ng sementeryo

kung ikukumpara mo sa mga „informal settlements (iskwater)‟ na nasa labas ng
sementeryo? (Bigyan ito ng ranggo, 1 ang pinkamababa/hindi sumasangayon at 5
ang pinakamataas/sumasangayon)
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
Bakit niyo ito nasabi? ________________________________________________
PAGKAIN
1. Gaano kadalas kayong kumain sa isang araw?
 1
 2
 3
 0 (May-araw na hindi)
2. Magkano ang nagagastos niyo sa pagkain sa isang araw? ____________________
3. Ano ang inyong madalas na kinakain? __________________________________
84
TUBIG at KALINISAN/PALIKURAN
1. Saan kayo kumukuha ng tubig na maiinom at panligo? _____________________
2. Gaano kalayo ang pinagkukuhanan niyo ng tubig?

 Malapit
 Malayo
3. Saan kayo gumagamit ng palikuran? ____________________________________
DAMIT
1. Nasa prayoridad niyo pa ba ang pag-bili ng damit?
 Oo
 Hindi
Saan niyo itong madalas nakukuha? ____________________________________
KALUSUGAN
1. Nasa prayoridad niyo pa ba ang pumunta sa isang ospital para magpapacheck-up
ng inyong kalusugan sa isang doktor?
 Oo
 Hindi
Ilang beses niyo na itong nagagawa sa isang taon? _________________________
2. Kapag ikaw o ang pamilya niyo ay nagkakasakit, ano ang inyong aksyon?
 Tinitiis nalang
 Bumiiuli ng gamot
 Nagpapa-tingin sa doktor
 Ibangsagot:_____________
3. Nagkaroon na ba ang gobyerno ng medical mission o kahit anong tulong pang-

medikal o pang-kalusugan sa inyong lugar?
 Oo
 Hindi
4. May mga barangay health workers o mga ibang medikal na propesyonal na

dumadalaw sa inyo dito para sa isang health information campaign?
85
 Meron
 Wala
Anong klase ng health information campaign? ____________________________
5. Nakakuha na ba kayo ng libreng serbisyo mula sa city health office?

 Oo
 Hindi
Anong klase na mga serbisyo? _________________________________________
EDUKASYON
1. Ano ang pinakamataas na antas ng edukasyon ang inyong naabot?
 Pre-School
 Elementarya
 High School
 Kolehiyo
 Technical Vocational
Kung hindi kayo nakapagtapos ano ang dahilan kung bakit ka tumigil sa pag-
aaral? ______________________________________________________
2. Kung bibigyan kayo ng pagkakataong ituloy ang inyong pag-aaral, itutuloy niyo
ba ito?
 Oo
 Hindi
3. Mayroon ba kayong pinag-aaral na anak?

 Meron
 Wala
Ilan sila at malapit ba ang paaralan nila sa sementeryo? _____________________
GOBYERNO
1. Nabigyan o nakatanggap na ba kayo ng tulong mula sa gobyerno?
 Oo
 Hindi
86
Ilang beses na nila kayong natulungan? __________________________________
2. Anong klase o tipo ng tulong ang nabigay na sa inyo?

 Trabaho/Pangkabuhayan. Tulad ng __________________________________
 Pera/Salapi. Magkano? ___________________________________________
 Bahay na Malilipatan. Saan? _______________________________________
 Iba pang mga naging tulong: _______________________________________
3. Nabigyan na ba kayo ng pagkakataon ng gobyerno upang lumipat sa ibang lugar?

 Oo
 Hindi
4. Kung nabigyan na kayo ng pagkakataon na lumipat o umalis mula sa sementeryo

bakit niyo ito tinanggihan?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Paano niyo ira-ranngo ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa inyo, kung sa tingin niyo ba
ay marami silang naitulong na sa inyo? (Bigyan ito ng ranggo, 1 ang pinkamababa
at 5 ang pinakamataas)
 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
6. Ano ang nais ninyong iparating o ihiling mula sa gobyerno?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Appendix B: Data for the Cemetery Life Index
Legend:
ID = Count of the Number of Respondents
P = Perception of Poverty
- 5 = Very Much Not Poor
- 4 = Not Poor
- 3 = Doing Alright
- 2 = Poor
- 1 = Very Much Poor
Employment
- I = Income
o 5 = 2500 and Above
o 4 = 1500 to 2499
o 3 = 1000 to 1499
o 2 = 500 to 999
o 1 = 499 and Below
- R = Regularity of Income
o 5 = Regular
o 1 = Irregular
- E = Perception on the Sufficiency of Income
o 5 = Highly Sufficient
o 4 = Sufficient
o 3 = Doing Alright
o 2 = Insufficient
o 1 = Highly Insufficient
Housing
- Re = Length of Residency
o 5 = 40 years and More
o 4 = 30 to 39 years
o 1 = 9 years and Less
- Ro = Roofless or Not
o 5 = Has a Roof
o 1 = Doesn‟t Have a Roof
- El = Access to Electricity
o 5 = Has Access to Electricity
o 1 = Doesn‟t Have Access to Electricity
Food
- F = Frequency
o 5 = 3 Times a Day
o 4 = 2 or 3 Times a Day
o 3 = 2 Times a Day
o 2 = 2 or 1 Times a Day
o 1 = Once a Day / There are Times Wherein They Don‟t Eat a Day
- A = Amount
89
o 5 = 400 and Above
o 4 = 300 to 399
o 3 = 200 to 299
o 2 = 100 to 199
o 1 = 99 and Below
Water
- S = Source of Water
o 1 = Doesn‟t Have Direct Access to Their Own Water Source (“Nakiki-
Igib”)
o 5 = Has Direct Access to Their Own Water Source (Maynilad/Nawasa)
- CR = Direct Answer to Comfort Rooms
o 5 = Has Direct Access to Their Own Comfort Rooms
o 1 = Doesn‟t Have Direct Access to Their Own Comfort Rooms
Health
- H = Prioritizing Hospital Visits
o 5 = Prioritizes Hospital Visits
o 1 = Doesn‟t Prioritize Hospital Visits
- BHW = Visits from Barangay Health Workers
o 5 = Has Been Visited by Barangay Health Workers
o 1 = Has Not Been Visited by Barangay Health Workers
- FS = Service from the City Health Office
o 5 = Has Received Free Services from the City Health Office
o 1 = Has Not Received Free Service from the City Health Office
90
Education
- L = Level of Educational Attainment
o 1 = Pre-School
o 2 = Elementary
o 3 = High School
o 4 = Technical Vocational
o 5 = College
- C = Children Sent to School
o 5 = Has Children Going to School
o 1 = Doesn‟t Have Children Going to School
Government
- He = Help/Assistance from the Government
o 5 = Has Received Government Assistance
o 1 = Has Not Received Government Assistance
- Rel = Offers of Relocation
o 5 = Has Been Offered Relocation
o 1 = Has Not Been Offered Relocation
- G = Perception on Government Service
o 5 = Highly Satisfactory
o 4 = Satisfactory
o 3 = Middle Ground
o 2 = Unsatisfactory
o 1 = Highly Unsatisfactory
91
P E H Fo W He Ed Go
ID Are P I R En Re R El Fr A S C H BH F L C He Rel G
a o R W S
1 B 3 1 5 1 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 3
2 B 3 3 5 2 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 3
3 B 3 3 1 2 2 5 5 4 3 5 5 5 5 1 2 5 1 1 5
4 B 2 5 5 3 2 5 5 5 2 5 5 5 5 5 2 5 1 1 3
5 B 4 1 5 1 2 5 5 3 3 5 5 1 5 5 3 5 5 1 3
6 B 3 2 5 3 3 5 5 5 2 1 5 5 5 1 3 1 1 1 1
7 B 3 1 1 3 1 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 4 1 1 1 2
8 B 1 5 5 1 3 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 1 1 1
9 B 1 5 5 1 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 1 2 5 1 1 1
10 B 3 4 1 2 1 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 5
11 B 4 1 1 2 1 5 5 5 4 5 1 5 5 5 3 5 1 5 1
12 B 1 1 1 4 3 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 2 1 1 1 1
13 B 2 1 5 2 1 5 1 4 2 1 1 5 5 1 3 5 1 1 2
14 B 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 2 1 1 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 1
15 B 4 1 5 1 2 5 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 5 2 5 5 5 2
16 B 3 1 1 2 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 1 1 2 5 5 1 3
17 B 3 1 1 1 1 5 5 5 2 5 5 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 3
18 B 4 5 5 2 2 5 5 5 3 5 1 5 5 5 2 5 1 1 4
19 B 1 1 1 1 2 5 1 1 2 1 5 1 5 1 3 1 1 5 1
20 B 3 1 1 3 1 5 5 5 1 5 1 5 5 1 3 5 1 1 2
21 B 3 1 5 2 1 5 5 5 2 5 5 1 5 1 2 5 1 1 1
22 B 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 5 5 1 5 1 1 3 5 1 1 3
23 B 3 5 5 3 3 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 2 5 5 5 5
24 B 3 4 5 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 5 5 2 5 5 5 3
25 B 5 5 5 4 1 5 5 5 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 1 1 1
26 B 5 1 1 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 1 1
27 B 4 2 5 2 3 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 1 1 1
28 B 3 1 5 3 1 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 5 5 4 1 1 1 3
29 B 2 1 1 1 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 1 5 1 3 5 1 5 2
30 B 4 1 1 3 1 5 5 5 2 5 5 5 5 5 2 1 1 1 1
31 B 3 1 1 4 1 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 1 3 1 1 1 1
32 B 5 1 1 1 3 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 1 2 5 1 1 1
33 B 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 5
34 B 1 1 1 1 4 5 1 5 1 1 5 5 5 1 2 5 5 1 1
35 B 2 1 1 1 3 5 5 4 1 1 1 1 5 1 2 1 1 1 2
36 B 1 1 1 2 1 5 5 5 4 1 5 5 1 5 3 5 1 1 1
37 T 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 5 1 2 5 1 1 3
38 T 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 2
39 T 3 4 5 2 2 5 1 5 3 1 1 1 5 5 3 1 1 5 1
92
40 T 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 3 1 1 1 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 1
41 T 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 3 1 1 1 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 1
42 T 3 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 2
43 T 4 2 5 4 1 5 5 5 4 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 5
44 T 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 5 5 1 5 5 5 1 1 2
45 T 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 2
46 T 1 1 1 2 5 5 5 4 1 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 4
47 T 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 5 1 1 3 1 1 1 1
48 T 3 1 1 3 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 5 1 5 3 1 1 1 1
49 T 3 1 1 2 3 5 5 5 2 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 1 1 2
50 T 3 1 1 1 3 5 5 1 2 1 1 5 5 1 4 5 5 1 3
51 T 1 4 5 1 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1
52 T 3 1 1 3 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 5 1 1 3
53 T 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 2 4 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 5 1 2
54 T 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 5 4 1 1 5 5 1 2 5 1 1 1
55 T 2 1 5 3 2 5 5 5 2 1 1 5 5 1 3 1 1 1 4
56 T 4 1 1 2 1 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 3
57 T 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 4 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 1 3
58 T 3 3 5 3 2 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 5 1 5 1 5 1 2
59 T 1 1 1 2 2 5 5 5 2 5 5 5 1 5 3 1 5 1 4
60 T 1 1 1 2 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 5 5 5 1 3
61 T 2 2 1 2 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 4
62 T 3 1 5 3 2 5 5 5 3 1 5 5 1 1 2 5 1 1 1
63 T 3 1 1 3 3 5 5 3 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 3
64 T 3 1 5 4 1 5 5 5 3 1 1 5 5 1 3 1 1 1 4
65 T 3 1 1 3 4 5 5 5 2 1 1 5 1 1 2 1 5 1 5
66 T 3 1 1 2 1 5 5 5 1 1 1 5 5 5 2 1 5 1 5
67 T 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 2 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 3
68 T 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 2 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 4
69 T 3 5 1 3 3 5 5 5 5 1 5 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 2
70 T 4 1 1 2 2 5 1 3 2 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 1 1 3
71 T 2 1 5 2 2 5 5 3 2 1 1 1 5 1 3 5 1 1 2
72 T 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 1 4
73 T 1 1 5 1 3 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 2 1 1 1 2
74 T 3 1 5 3 1 5 5 5 3 1 1 5 1 5 4 5 1 1 3
75 T 3 5 1 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 3 1 1 1 1
76 T 3 1 1 3 3 5 5 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1
77 N 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 3
78 N 4 1 5 3 2 5 5 5 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 1 1 2
79 N 3 1 5 3 5 5 5 5 4 1 1 5 5 1 3 5 5 1 5
80 N 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 3 1 1 5 1 1 2 1 5 1 1
93
81 N 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 3 1 5 5 5 1 5 1 1 1 1
82 N 1 2 1 2 5 5 1 5 3 1 1 1 5 1 3 1 5 1 4
83 N 4 4 5 4 3 5 1 5 4 1 5 5 5 5 2 5 5 1 4
84 N 3 2 5 1 5 5 5 4 2 1 5 5 5 1 2 5 1 1 3
85 N 1 1 1 1 5 5 1 1 2 1 1 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 1
86 N 2 1 1 2 3 5 1 5 2 1 5 1 1 1 5 1 5 1 1
87 N 3 1 1 1 4 5 5 5 4 1 1 1 5 5 3 5 5 1 3
88 N 1 1 1 1 3 5 1 4 1 1 5 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 2
89 N 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 1 1 1 1 5 5 5 1 5 1 5
90 N 2 1 1 2 3 5 1 3 5 1 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 3
91 N 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 3 3 1 1 5 5 1 3 5 5 1 1
92 N 3 1 1 2 4 5 5 5 2 1 5 5 5 1 2 5 5 1 3
93 N 3 1 1 2 2 5 5 5 1 1 1 5 5 1 3 1 5 1 3
94 N 3 1 5 3 4 5 5 3 2 1 1 5 5 1 3 5 1 1 3
95 N 4 1 1 2 2 5 5 3 2 1 1 5 5 1 3 5 5 1 2
96 N 3 2 1 2 3 5 5 4 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 1 1 4
97 N 3 1 1 2 3 5 5 5 4 1 5 5 5 5 2 5 5 1 3
98 N 3 2 1 1 3 5 5 5 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 5 1 3
99 N 2 1 1 2 3 5 5 3 2 1 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 1 3
100 N 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 4 1 5 5 5 1 3 1 1 1 1
101 N 3 1 1 2 2 5 5 2 2 1 1 5 5 1 3 5 1 1 5
102 N 1 3 1 2 4 5 5 5 3 1 5 5 5 5 3 5 1 1 3
103 N 3 1 1 3 3 5 1 5 3 1 5 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1
104 N 2 1 1 1 2 5 1 5 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 1
105 N 2 1 1 2 4 5 5 5 3 1 5 5 5 1 3 5 5 5 1
106 N 2 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 2 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 3
107 N 3 1 5 3 3 5 5 5 3 1 1 5 5 1 3 5 1 1 2
108 N 1 3 1 1 2 5 1 5 2 1 5 5 5 1 3 5 1 1 4
109 N 1 1 1 1 3 5 1 3 1 1 1 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 5
110 N 3 1 5 2 5 5 5 3 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 5 1 1 2
111 N 2 1 1 2 2 5 1 5 1 1 5 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 3
112 N 2 1 1 1 3 5 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1
113 N 1 1 1 1 2 5 5 5 2 1 5 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 1
114 N 3 1 1 3 2 5 5 5 3 1 1 5 5 5 3 1 1 1 3
94

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UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES MANILA

College of Arts and Sciences

An Undergraduate Thesis Presented to the

In Partial Fulfillment of the Course Requirements

This thesis, entitled BUHAY SEMENTERYO: An Assessment and

of individuals/households in the cities. Such situation is often characterized by an

increased vulnerability to negative externalities, both natural and man-made, sub-par

living conditions, and the lack of access to basic resources.

Cemeteries and other kinds of informal settlements in general, are manifestations

situations these cemetery dwellers are currently living in.

The issue on poverty, as it is, is not just an economic or monetary problem, it is a

multi-dimensional one. Because of this, in observing the cases of people experiencing

these informal settlers.

helped me throughout the process of making my thesis.

believed me more than I could ever believe myself in my life.

The people who helped me during my process of data gathering or in my field

Santiago), my cousin, for assisting me in my data gathering in Bagbag Cemetry, Quezon

finishing this thesis. This would not be possible without Him.

II. HYPOTHESIS ........................................................................................................ 6

III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ............................................................................ 7

A. General Objectives ...................................................................................... 7

B. Specific Objectives ..................................................................................... 7

IV. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY........................................................................ 8

V. LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................... 9

VI. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................................ 27

VII. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................... 29

VIII. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 30

B. Scope and Limitation ................................................................................ 31

C. Analytical Tools ........................................................................................ 32

IX. PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...................................... 35

X. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ................................................................................ 71

XI. CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................... 75

XII. RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 76

XIII. REFERENCES ..................................................................................................... 79

XIV. APPENDICES ...................................................................................................... 82

Appendix A: Questionnaire from the Survey ........................................... 82

Appendix B: Data for the Cemetery Life Index........................................ 88

experienced by many Filipinos today.

economy, it cannot be denied that poverty is a multidimensional concept, which also

Essentially what is needed, according to several studies, is the improvement of the

individual must have in order to empower themselves or to increase their opportunities in

as an important basic need and the right to adequate housing.

poverty that is present today.

Malabon City; and (3) North Cemetery in Manila City.

City is referred to as a distribution hub, at least according to its official

government page, because it is strategically near both transportation networks and

2. Tugatog Public Cemetery is a cemetery in Tugatog, Malabon which spans at a

in Metro Manila. It is a part of what is called the CAMANAVA area in Metro

Manila, which consists of the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and

Valenzuela. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority and the online

of 353,337 people, a land area of 1,571.40 hectares and it consists of 21 barangays

which are further separated onto two districts.

3. The Manila North Cemetery is a public cemetery in Santa Cruz, Manila. At 54

hectares it is not only considered to be the largest public cemetery in Metro

population of 1,652,171 as of the year 2010. According to the Philippine Statistics

congressional districts and 14 municipalities.

basic social services.

variables that were derived from the following statements: