STRENGTHENING RESILIENCE OF INFORMAL SETTLERS THROUGH INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATORY COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT ATTY. VIOLETA SOMERA-SEVA

Senior Advisor to the Mayor

City of Makati, Philippines

What is Urban Resilience and Informality?

• Urban Resilience refers to the capability to prepare for, respond to, recover from significant multihazard threats with minimum damage to public safety, health, economy and security (Wilbanks, 2007)

• Informality refers to unplanned settlements and areas where housing is not in compliance with current planning and building regulations. (OECD, 2001)

• It also refers to a category of income-generating servicing or settlement practices that are relatively unregulated or uncontrolled by the state or formal institutions. (Duminy, 2011)

Total Land Area:

27.36 sq. km (4.28% of the total land area of Metro Manila)

Congressional Districts:

District I – 20 Barangays District II – 13 Barangays

Hazard Prone Areas

Makati City Resilience Legal Policy and Institutional Framework

• Anchored on international accords - HFA, Hyogo Framework, Sendai Framework for DRR, SDGs, COP21

• Philippine Constitution, Local Government Code, Climate Change Act of 2009, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010

• National Climate Change Framework and Plan • National Risk Reduction and Climate Change

Framework and Plan • Implementing Rules, Regulations, and Directives • Supreme Court Decision (Continuing Mandamus for

Clearing of Waterways)

Mainstreaming DRR-CCA in Makati

Planning Process

UNISDR MCR LGSAT/Score

card 2010 - 2014

CLUP 2013-2023

Annual Program Review & Planning

Workshop

Annual Investment

Program

Makati DRRM Plan

2013 - 2019

• 9 CDP/LDIP 2013-2019

MAGNITUDE OF INFORMAL SETTLERS IN MAKATI

NUMBER OF IS FAMILIES

DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 TOTAL

Government Lot 477 1,647 2,124

Private Lot 1, 647 1, 007 2,654

TOTAL 2,124 2, 654 4,778

NUMBER OF ISFs in Danger Areas

DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 TOTAL

Government Lot 477 1,453 1, 930

Private Lot 0 90 90

TOTAL 477 1,543 2,020

Source: Makati Social Welfare Department

Makati DRRM Programs where

Informal Sector is Involved

DRRM Community Organization and Empowerment Program

Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CBDRRM) Project

Barangay DRRM Plan

Hazard and Risk Planning

Contingency Planning

Skill Training (Camp Management, Health Emergency Management and First Responders Training)

Drills

MSWD Resettlement and Community Development Program

Dreamland Ville in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan

Makati Home Ville in Calauan, Laguna

And other NHA projects (Trece Martires and Rodriguez, Rizal)

DRRM Information Education Communication (IEC) Program

Mobile Knowledge Resource Center

Town Watching

Philippine Commission on Urban Poor and City of Makati Partnership Disaster Preparedness Seminar

Awareness Raising Seminars/Workshops, Skills Training for the Private Sector

MSWD Community Building Program • Strengthening of the Neighborhood System

• Linking the communities with NGOs and private companies

• Provide technical support through leadership and community management training

RESETTLEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

“DREAMLAND VILLE” PROJECT

WHAT IS DREAMLAND VILLE? a resettlement and inclusive, resilient community developed jointly

by the City Government of Makati with informal settlers and private partners (GK, Meralco, Caritas, Rotary Club, Holcim) and the local government of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan since 2009

located in Brgy. Kaypian, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan on 32, 341 sq. meter land currently occupied by 412 households

The Dreamland Ville observes 7 pillars of resettlement and community development namely strong community organizing, participatory governance, livelihood and access to market, gender sensitivity, ecological sustainability, food security, health (hygiene and sanitation) towards community resilience

Community Facilities Provided by the Makati City and GK Partners

16

Progress Pictures

BEFORE AFTER

RESETTLEMENT PROCESS

• IS Census/Tagging • Social Preparation

– Local Inter-agency Committee Meeting (LIAC) three times prior to resettlement/conference dialogue (with NHA, PCUP, DILG, PNP, MMDA, CHR and Makati City department and barangays)

– Resettlement Site Visit – IEC activity for selection of assistance package

• Relocation in Makati owned projects (free use of the lot + free house with partnership of private sectors, Php 5,000 financial assistance + five days food assistance + trucking services)

• NHA socialized housing projects subsidized low cost for amortization • Balik Probinsya (free fare + PhP 5,000 + five days food assistance) • Financial Assistance for transfer within Metro Manila and nearby provinces (PhP 25,000 +

trucking + 5 days food assistance)

• Actual Resettlement and Continuing Support by Makati City government (medical services, social services, livelihood programs, seminars etc.)

Dreamland Ville Homeowners Association Senior Citizens’ Organization Parents’ Organization (Feeding) Galing Kabataan-Dreamland Youth Rag Making Livelihood Project Team Dreamland Ville Consumer Cooperative KAYPIAN-PALMERA TODA (pedicabs/non-

motorized transport)

RESETTLEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

1. CASH FOR WORK LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

RESETTLEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

2. FOOD FOR WORK LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

RESETTLEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

3. RICE FOR WORK LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

4. COMMUNAL GARDENING LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

5. RAG MAKING LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

6. NAIL CARE TRAINING LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

7. HOLCIM – GALING MASON CONSTRUCTION SKILLS TRAINING LIVELIHOOD PROJECT

8. 700 HOURS OF “SWEAT EQUITY”

Promotion of People’s Participation and Empowerment

9. SPIRITUAL AND VALUES FORMATION SEMINARS

LESSONS LEARNED

IS are receptive and participative in providing relevant inputs that may be useful in designing/redesigning DRR-CCA policies and programs provided that an enabling environment is established

A comprehensive, inclusive community development program ensures sustainability of community-based initiatives

Social preparation is a necessary ingredient for buy-in of informal settlers of resettlement programs which keeps them out of danger areas

When Typhoon Ketsana occurred, informal settlers were no longer affected by its impacts because they are already safely relocated.

Developing partnerships with the private sector and host local government, provides additional resources and help identify sound strategies and best practices for resilient development

MAKATI’S NEXT STEPS IN COOPERATION WITH INFORMAL

SETTLERS Intensify IEC Program for remaining Informal Settlers

(focus on the possible consequences in living in hazard prone areas)

Explore affordable in-city housing

Optimize partnerships with different organizations

Continuous training on livelihood programs, values formation and social services

Intensify monitoring of new or re-entering IS (DILG Memorandum Circular 2011-017, Prevention of Proliferation of ISFs)

Testimony of a Relocatee “Dito sa Dreamland Ville, kahit paano malaki ang pinagbago kaysa noon. Dito nagtutulungan kami , maganda ang buhay namin sa tahimik na komunidad. Nagpapasalamat kami sa tulong ng Makati dahil hindi kami pinababayaan.” (“Here in Dreamland Ville, somehow our lives have improved significantly. We help each other and live in a safe and peaceful community. We thank the continuous assistance of Makati City for they have not left us behind.”)

-Maricon Cabero, resident of Block 7, Dreamland Ville. A former resident of Guam

St., Brgy. La Paz, Makati

THANK YOU!