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Baguio’s urban poor weary of housing, land titles

BAGUIO CITY (June 15) — An organization of the urban poor sector reveals the ugly face of this well- known tourist destination – lack of housing and absence of land security – that threatens them.

Ignacio Pangket, chairman of the Organisasyon dagiti Nakurapay nga Umili iti Syudad (ORNUS) or organization of the city’s urban poor, claimed that 69 of 129 barangays here are considered by the government as blighted communities where residents are equated as squatters as most do not possess the necessary legal documents to their lands and shelters. Demolition continues due to these problems, he added.

As a consequence of this classification, he added, these “squatter areas” suffer most from lack of social services and projects such as water and electricity services, roads and institutional buildings, among others. These people are also threatened with demolition due to the absence of legal documents like land titles or building permits.

Pangket expounded that only 20% of the housing units in the city serve its population as he claimed that only 36,533 housing units were made available to the 180,000 population in 1993. Ornus noted no increase in housing units at present despite the city’s more than 300,000 residents.

Pangket, whose parents are from Sadanga, Mountain Province, claimed that 53% percent of the house-owners have no land security while 40 % of the populations do not have their own house. These are either renting or living with their relatives in the city, he added.

Squatting capital

Pangket cites researches done by its mother organization Kadamay, an alliance of urban poor organizations in Metro Manila and other urban centers of the country, which found out that some 30 million from the 83 million population lack adequate housing despite the policy stated in the constitution to provide adequate housing for its citizens.

At least 600 communities in the 17 cities and municipalities, added Pangket, are considered as slum or squatter areas. Some 400 such communities are in Metro Manila alone with 200,000 households in Tondo, Manila.

Pangket raised concern for some 620,817 families who live near railways or under bridges.

“At least in Baguio, “squatters” have concrete houses, unlike in other areas where shelters are considered unacceptable for human dwelling,” he added

Pangket claimed that due to the problems on land security and housing, complicated by government projects, the urban poor are always confronted with demolitions particularly due to absence of building permit.

Pangket reiterated that under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, earlier established dwellings should not be demolished. In fact, the state should address the housing problems as a respect to the human rights of its citizenry as stated in its laws.

The series of lecture forum among residents of Brgy. Irisan in this city is a part of the campaign to assert their right to a decent shelter. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS

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