Trends in Socialized Housing

History of Socialized Housing

Socialized housing traces its roots to the social justice policy enunciated by

then Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel Luis Quezon. In July 1938, Don

Alejandro suggested to buy a big tract of land not far from Manila which would be

subdivided into small lots to sell to poor people at a price so low it would be within

their reach.

PHILIPPINE HOMESITE CORPORATION (1938-1945)

President Quezon directed the immediate creation of the People’s Homesite

Corporation (PHC) as the first government housing agency on 14 October 1938. This

was to be a subsidiary of the National Development Company (NDC). Appointed

chairman of the PHC board was Alejandro Roces Sr. Other members of the board

included Ambrosio Magsaysay, Vicente Fragante, Jose Paez and Dr. Eugenio

Hernando. Ramon Roces was appointed manager with an annual salary pf P1.00.

During its meeting on October 10, 1939, the Phc Board of Directors approved a

resolution to purchase a tract of land consisting of 15, 723, 191 sq.m. in Diliman

Esttate owned by Doña Teresa Tuazon at P0.50 per sq.m.

PEOPLE’S HOMESITE AND HOUSING CORPORATION (PHHC) (1945-1975)

Six years later, on 17 September 1945, the National Housing Corporation was

created. The two agencies, the PHC and the NHC, were subsequently merged on

October 4, 1947 into the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation. In the years

that followed, six housing related agencies were formed to respond to separate and

distinct shelter requirements, namely, the Presidential Assistant on Housing and

Resettlement (PAHRA), Tondo Foreshore Development Authority (TFDA), Central

Institute for Training and Relocation of Urban Squatters (CITRUS), Presidential

Committee on Urban and Resettlement (PRECHUR), Sapang Palay Development

Committee (SPDC), Inter-Agency Task Force to Undertake the Relocation of

Families in Barrio Nabacaan, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY (1975-PRESENT)

Eventually, on October 15, 1975, President Ferdinand E. Marcos promulgated

Presidential Decree NO. 757 - Creating the National Housing Authority as the sole

housing agency. NHA, a government-owned and controlled corporation, took over

and integrated the functions and resources of the PHHC and six other housing-

related agencies which were then abolished. Three years later, the Ministry of

Human Settlements (MHS) was created to further bolster the housing effort and

forge new plans and directions for accelerated housing development on a national

scale.

THE FORTIES AND THE FIFTIES

Even before the war when the total population of the Filipinos was only about

sixteen million, housing in the urban areas was already a problem. As early as 1940,

the PHHC had been constructing dwelling units in its housing projects. The

Kamuning Housing Project in Quezon City was started in 1940. Project I in Roxas

District, Quezon City was concretized in 1949 while Project 2 in Quirino District was

set up in 1951. Other housing projects such as Project 3 in Quirino District, Projects

4, 6, 7 and 8 in Quezon City and Project 16 in Caloocan City were also built. These

housing projects, however, were not limited to Manila and suburbs Government

housing projects were also established in Tagaytay, Tacloban, Ioloilo, Bacolod City,

and Roxas City. Construction of tenements started in 1956 to provide more

homeless families with housing units while maximizing use of the land.

The houses in these government projects in these government projects took

several forms. There were single-family and two-family detached units, single and

two-story row houses, walk-up apartments and high-rise structures. These housing

projects included provisions for community services and facilities such as school

houses, recreation and open spaces, market and shopping areas, religious facilities,

circulation networks and other utilities.

THE SIXTIES

The rapid urbanization of Manila in the following years after World War II

triggered the influx of rural immigrants who sought better economic opportunities in

the city. This led to the problem of squatting and congestion in the city and its

suburbs. In an effort to ease the housing shortage, government initiated the

construction of multi-story tenement housing projects, specifically for low-income

families living in the squatter colonies. A viable alternative to slum living, the

tenements provided housing facilities to relocated families from blighted areas in

Metro Manila.

THE SEVENTIES

In the 1970s the Philippine population rose to 40 million with the biggest

concentration of people in Metro Manila. With the shortage in Housing units and

limited space available for housing, real estate prices soared beyond the reach of the

ordinary Filipino. The national government responded to the housing problem

through institutional reorganization. Existing shelter agencies were dissolved and the

NHA was created in 1975. The NHA formulated and implemented three housing

program concepts namely:

1. Construction of new housing units

NHA constructed new housing units to meet the increasing demand for housing

brought on by household and in-migration. The houses constructed varied from

single-detached and cluster houses to medium-rise apartments, depending on the

location and affordability of prospective beneficiaries. The projects provided for

community facilities and amenities which the beneficiaries could avail of and share

among themselves.

2. Slum Improvement and Upgrading of Sites and Services

This housing concept was geared towards the improvement of slums and blighted

areas. This entailed on-site development of deteriorating urban as well as rural

communities. Projects were planned to include basic infrastructure facilities and

services, effective measures for decongestion and environmental hygiene to provide

employment opportunities.

3. Sites and Services Development

Resettlement sites were developed in growth areas connected to urban centers by

transport network to accommodate families displaced from danger zones and slum

improvement projects. The sites were provided with core or shell houses

complemented by physical structures such as roads, water and power systems and

socio-economic facilities. Settlers were also provided serviced home lots where they

could build their houses a self-help basis. The emphasis of development was on

sanitation and hygiene.

EIGHTIES

The onset of the 80s saw the Authority pursuing with even greater vigor of

blighted communities and development of sites and services for marginal and low-

income families not only in Metro Manila but also in other urban centers of the

country.

In the late eighties, sectoral participation in low-cost housing widened. NHA

launched the Joint Venture Program. This involved joint undertaking with the local

government and the private sector in the delivery of housing services. In joint venture

with the private sector, the Authority pursued subdivision development, apartment

financing and dormitory construction. The houses constructed varied depending on

the location and affordability of prospective beneficiaries.

The decade also adopted the self-help approach via the Community Mortage

Program as a new scheme to housing delivery.

NINETIES

The decade of the nineties was ushered in by a series of disasters which hit

the country. As such, focus was given on the reinforcement of the Emergency

Housing Assistance (EHAP) in the calamity-stricken areas. Housing assistance

came in the forms of loans to purchase construction materials, technical assistance

and core units.

Also during the decade, NHA revived the New Dwelling Units approach and

renamed it Completed Housing Program, encouraged by the mortage take-out

scheme under the Unified Home Lending Program. The Medium-Rise Housing

Program was likewise revived in response to the clamor for an alternative to

relocation, or in-city relocation approach.

Toward the latter part of the nineties, the NHA had intensified the

implementation of the resettlement program which addressed the shelter needs of

families relocated from esteros, creeks and waterways.