housing the poor

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HOUSING THE POOR

in the New Millennium

EDUARDO JORGE ANZORENA, SJ

with FRANCISCO L. FERNANDEZ

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HOUSING THE POOR The Asian Experience

1^st Edition – January 29, 1993 2^nd Edition – January 29, 1994

HOUSING THE POOR In the New Millennium

September 11, 2004

Published by:

PAGTAMBAYONG – A Foundation for Mutual Aid, Inc.

102 P. del Rosario Ext.

Cebu City 6000 Philippines

Tel: [+63-32] 418-2168 / 253-7974 (fax) Email: [email protected]

This publication is not covered by copyright and may be quoted or recopied in part or in full with or without acknowledgements or notice to its authors and publishers

although these would be highly appreciated.

Cover design by Raymund L. Fernandez.

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A starter house of Pagtambayayong in Cebu City.

The construction cost in 2003 was P28,000 (US$ 475), with firewalls and septic tank, but without front and back walls or floors.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

Preface

1. Community Organization - Demanding to Be Heard Like the Others

Burakumin, Japan; Huaycan,Peru; Saul Alinsky in Asia; COPE, CO-

TRAIN & UPA, Philippines; PROUD & YUVA, India; Korea; Paolo Freire;

UMM-SP, Brazil; HSF, POP & Assembly of the Poor, Thailand;

1 2. Community Organization through Savings and Credit

SPARC, India; People’s Dialogue & Urban Poor Federations, South Africa;

Philippines

29 3. Government Financial Opportunities to the Poor

India (HUDCO), Million Houses, Sri Lanka; Assisted Mutual Help, Mendoza Housing Subsidies, Chile; CMP Philippines; CODI, Thailand;

FOSOVI, Mexico; Participatory Budgeting, Brazil

43 4. Private or Government-Private Financial Opportunities to the Poor

Grameen Bank, Bangladesh; SEDECA, FPVS, FVC, Argentina; Cerah Periferia, Brazil; Madre Tierra, Argentina; PUSH, Phoilippines; uTshani, South Africa; Gungano, Zimbabwe; Twahamgga Fund, Namibia;

Philippine Urban Poor Dev. Fund, Philippines; Pak Hgum Fund, Lao PDR;

Women’s Bank, Sri Lanka; SPARCm India

61 5. Very Low Cost Housing

YSS, Indonesia; Mangalore, India; Hogar de Cristo, Chile; Viviendas del

Hogar de Cristo, Ecuador; Servivienda, Colombia

79 6. Low Cost Housing

Fundasal, El Salvador; CEVE, Argentina; Freedom to Build,

Pagtambayayong, FDUP, Fundasal

90 7. Rural Housing

ASAG, India; MEVIR, Uruguay; Grameen Bank

108 8. Heritage - Conservation for Future Generations

Japan; Lhasa Conservation Project, Tibet/China; Nepal

121 9. Pavement Dwellers

Groundswll, United Kingdom; Japan; Homeless Exchange Program, Hongkong-Japan,-Korea; Dignity Village, United States of America; Under

the Bridge, Thailand;

135 10. From the House to the City

Kampung Improvement, Indonesia; Slum Sanitation, India; OPP KIP,

Sindh Kaatchi Abadies Auuthority & Urban Research Center, Pakistan;

149 Conclusion

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PREFACE

H o u si n g i s a b a si c h u ma n r ig h t . It i s a n e s s en t i a l r eq u i r eme n t t o a l i f e o f d i g n i t y f o r t h e p e r so n an d p e a c e a n d e c o n o mi c p r o sp e r ity fo r th e n a t io n .

Y e t d e c en t h o u s in g i s w an to n ly d e n i e d t o a l a rg e n u mb e r o f p e o p l e al l o v er th e w o r ld . So ma n y o f t h e m l i v e u n d e r b rid g e s, o n t h e s tr e e t s, in th e s q u al i d slu ms a n d i n b e d s p ac e s w o r s e t h an an i ma l c ag e s .

T h e r e a r e h o w ev e r e f f o r t s al l o v e r t h e w o r ld wh ic h p r o mo te h o u s in g f o r t h e p o o r. T h ey a r e f o r m e t h e b e a co n o f h o p e t h a t d e c e n t s h el t e r i s i n d e e d p o ss i b l e f o r a l l .

F o r th e p as t 2 5 y e ar s, I h av e t rie d to reco rd in th e S EL AVIP Newsl e tt er th ese l i g h t s o f h o p e to g e th e r w i th th e p ro b l e ms i n so ma n y c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o rl d . T h i s b o o k wi l l c o mp i l e t h e s e a r t i cl es o f t h e S E L A V I P N e w s l e t t e r a n d c l a s si f y t h e m a c c o r d i n g t o s o me co m mo n t h eme s w h i c h I th in k h av e e me r g e d a mo n g th e v ar io u s a p p r o a ch e s o f h o u si n g t h e p o o r in A si a a n d t h e wo r l d . E a ch t h e me c o n s t i t u t e s a c h a p t e r . E ac h c h ap t e r i n t u r n s e r v e s a s an a p p r o a ch th a t p ro mo te s h o u si n g t h e p o o r o n it s o wn o r i n co mb in a ti o n wi t h o th e r a p p r o a ch e s.

L i k e th e S E L A V IP N e w s l e t t e r, th i s b o o k i s m e r e l y a c o l l e c t i o n o f t h e l i v e s , t h e w o r k s a n d t h e w o rd s o f my ma ny f r i en d s. It w i l l f e at u r e a n u mb e r o f g ro u p s a n d in d iv id u als . I t i s b y n o me a n s c o mp l e t e . W h en ev er p o s si b l e, w e wi ll i n c l u d e t h e i r E - ma i l a d d r e s s e s w i t h t h e h o p e th a t y o u w i ll d i r e c t l y c o n t a c t t h e m f o r fu r th e r i n fo r mat i o n .

M a n y g ro u p s a r e n o t me n t i o n ed , n o t

b e c a u s e t h ey ar e n o t i mp o r t an t . T h e r e a r e j u s t t o o m a n y i n d i v i d u a l s a n d g r o u p s w h o d o o u t s t an d in g wo r k .

T e n y e a r s a g o , i n m y b o o k “ H o u s i n g t h e P o o r – T h e A si a n E x p e r i e n c e ” , I w r o t e i n t h e c o n c l u s i o n :

“ T h e b o o k h a s sh o wn s ev e r a l w ay s w h e r e in th o u s an d s o f f a mi l i e s h a v e f o u n d a c c e s s t o h o u s i n g . T h e l a st t e n y e a r s s h o w ed re ma r k a b l e d ev e lo p me n t s a s e v i d e n c e d b y t h e w o r k o f h u n d r e d s o f c o m mi t t e d l e ad e r s , c o m mu n i ty o rg a n i z a t io n s , n o n -g o v er n me n t o rg a n i z a t io n s , p ro f e s si o n a l s an d e v e n at

t i me s g o v e r n me n t . Th ey h av e sh o w n t h r o u g h a c t u a l e x p e r ie n c e t h a t i t i s p o s si b l e to s o lv e t h e p ro b l e m o f h o u si n g o f t h e p o o r u s i n g v e r y l i t t l e r e s o u r c e s . W h a t i s r e q u i r ed is p o l it i c al w i l l to i mp l e me n t t h i s in a l ar g e s c al e .

“ B u t t h e r e i s n o p o l i t i c a l w i l l .

“ I n t h e me a n t i me , t h e p o o r i n o rd e r t o s u r v i v e a r e f o r c e d t o sq u at o n g o v e r n me n t o r p r iv a t e l a n d . T h ey li v e wi th o u t b a si c i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , f a ci l i t i e s su c h a s e l e c t r i ci t y , w a t e r a n d s e w e r a g e . T h ey d w e l l o n p a v e me n t s , f l o o d p r o n e a r e a s a n d d u mp s i t e s . O f t en t i me s , t h ey s p en d a g ood amou nt o f th e i r me a g e r i n co me r e n t i n g s ma l l c u b i cl es d e s i g n ed a s c a g e s.

Y e s , t h e r a p id u r b an i z a t i o n a n d d e v el o p me n t in mo s t t h i rd wo r ld c o u n tr i e s h a v e l e f t t h e u rb a n p o o r a s s q u at t e r s in t h ei r o wn c o u n t ry .

“ M i s e r ab l e a s t h ey al r e a d y a r e, t h ey f a c e f o r ci b l e e v i ct i o n . A n d t h i s t h r e at o f e v i c t i o n p ai n f u l l y g r o w s . ”

T o d ay , t e n y e a r s l a te r , ma n y th in g s h a v e h ap p e n e d . Th e w o r ld h a s g ro w n s o

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mu c h . T h e c o mp u t er h a s ma d e i t s o e a sy t o w r i t e a n d co m mu n i c a t e w i t h o n e a n o t h er . F o r i n st a n c e, my n e w s l e t t e r u s e d t o b e a r o u n d t h i r t y p a g e s , t y p ed m a n u a l l y a n d p h o t o c o p i e d . T o d ay w i t h t h e c o mp u t e r a n d i t s sp e l l i n g a n d g r a mm a r t e s t s an d t h e s c a n n e r , t h e n e w s l et t e r o f t e n r e a c h e s 1 3 0 p a g e s , p r i n t e d a n d b o u n d , a n d n o w als o av a i l ab l e i n i n t e r ac t i v e C D i n c o l o r .

Y e s w e h av e a ll g ro w n . So me o f o u r f r i en d s h av e p a s s ed a w ay . A f e w g r o u p s h a v e a l so d i s a p p e a r e d . B u t mo s t o f u s h a v e c o n ti n u e d . Ou r n u mb e r h a s n o t g ro w n so mu c h . Bu t th e in fl u en c e o f ma n y o f o u r fri e n d s h as g ro wn t r e me n d o u sly , n o lo n g er ju s t i n th e c o m mu n i t i e s b u t al s o i n t h e ci t i e s a n d i n t h e wh ol e co un try . So me ha v e ev en e x t en d ed th e i r i n fl u en c e to o th e r c o u n t r i e s.

T h e h o u s i n g s i t u a t i o n o f o u r b r o t h e r s a n d s i st e r s a l l o v er t h e w o r l d , e v en i n d e v el o p ed c o u n tr i e s, r e ma i n s v ery b a d , in

f a c t wo r s e . T h e i rr e v er s i b l e t r e n d to w a rd s g lo b al i z at io n , p ri v a ti z a ti o n a n d u rb a n i z a t i o n w i l l w i t h o u t d o u b t a l s o ma k e t h e sit u a t i o n e v en wo r s e.

B u t ad e q u a t e h o u si n g f o r a ll a n d t h e w a r a g ai n s t p o v e rty a r e n o w in th e ma i n s t r e a m . W e a r e mu c h mo r e e x p er i en c ed . M an y mo r e to o l s h a v e b e en d e v el o p ed . Th e n e ed a n d th e o p p o r tu n it ie s h av e b ec o me v e ry o b v io u s .

I th ink go vern men t s an d in t ern ati o n a l a g e n ci e s p r a c t i c a l l y c o nt in u e to do th e s a me t h i n g s a s b e fo r e , b u t n o w th ey i n c lu d e c o mp o n e n t s an d e l e me n ts th a t a r e f a v o r ab l e to th e p o o r. T h e h a v e t o d o s o . T h e a c cu sa t i o n t h a t t h ey ar e c r e a t i n g i n s t e ad o f r e d u ci n g p o v e rty h as b e co me mu c h l o u d e r . T h e co mp u l s i o n t o d o s o me t h in g p o s it iv e h a s b e co me mu c h s t r o n g e r .

T h e s t ru g g l e to p ro mo t e ad eq u at e h o u s in g f o r a ll co n ti n u e s … wit h mu c h mo r e w i s d o m a n d ag e … w i t h mu c h mo r e h o p e an d jo y .

Different groups adopt varying approaches. It is understandable. Different factors such as the situation of each society, the political climate of each country and the charisma of the people involved will all determine the actions that need to be taken.

It is very important for us to realize that each positive action is a very important stone in the construction of a more just society of our dreams.

It is also equally important for us to realize

that our action however important it may look

to each of us is merely a stone of the many

stones required.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

E d u a rd o Jo r g e A n zo r en a , 7 3 y e ar s o f a g e an d a p r i e st o f t h e S o c i ety o f J e s u s h a s a PhD in A r ch i t e ct ur e f r o m th e Un iv ersity o f To ky o. He recei v ed th e p r e s ti g i o u s R a mo n Ma g s ay s ay A w a r d f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n d e r s t a n d i n g i n 1 9 9 4 .

P r i o r t o h i s f o r c e d r et i r e me n t aro u n d t h r e e y e ar s ago , F r . Jo rg e t aug ht a r c h i t e c t u r e a n d p h i l o so p h y o f d e v el o p me n t a t S o f i a U n iv ersity i n Toky o, s i x mo n t h s o f ev e ry y e a r . Th e r e ma i n i n g s i x m o n th s h e l i t e r a l l y t r a v e l e d a r o u n d th e world visitin g lo w-in co me hou sin g . H i s t r av e l s t o A s i a we r e s o ex t en s i v e t h a t t h e r e i s h ar d l y a p r o j e c t , n o m a t t e r h o w s ma l l , t h a t h e h a s n o t v i s i t e d .

W i th h i s re t i r e me n t , i t i s n o t so c l e a r

w h a t h e i s n o w d o in g i n J ap a n . Bu t w e h e a r d t h a t h e c o n t in u e s t o g i v e o c c a s i o n al s e mi n a r s a n d l e c t u r es . B u t d e s p i t e h i s r e t i r e me n t , h e co n t i n u e s t o t r av e l a r o u n d t h e w o r ld v i s it in g p ro j e c t s an d sh a r in g s t o ri e s a b o u t h o u s i n g t h e p o o r .

F r . Jo r g e a l s o co n t i n u e s t o p u b l i sh t h e n e w sl et t e r t wi c e a y e ar wi th o u t f ai l s i n c e 1 9 7 6 . T h e n e w s l e t t e r i s a c h r o n i c l e o f h i s t r av e l s c o n t ai n i n g st o r i e s o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f h i s co u n t l e s s f r i en d s i n t h e w o r l d o f h o u si n g . " N o p l a n s , " s a y s F r . A n z o r e n a, " F o r t h ey ar e ev e r c h an g i n g a n d ch e ap . E x p e r i e n c e s a r e mo r e i n t er e s t i n g a n d l i f e - g i v i n g . "

H e l p in g F r. Jo rg e wri t e an d p ro d u c e t h i s boo k i s F r an ci s c o L. Fe r n an d e z,

Fr. Jorge with Sheila Patel of SPARC and Hosaka.

Hosaka Mitsuhiko is now a professor at Nihon Fukushi Univers ty of Nagoya (l tera ly meaning the Japan Un vers ty of Soc a We are), involved

n two-master's programs on international development. Hosaka is major inf uence in As a. As a former human sett emen s of cer of ESCAP, he promoted exchange v s ts among NGOs and CBOs. This eventual y helped

led to the organization of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights.

(Email o Hosaka:

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f [email protected])

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k n o wn a s B i mb o to mo s t p e o p le . H e i s th e P r e s id e n t o f P ag t a mb ay ay o n g F o u n d a ti o n ( l i t er a lly me a n i n g M u t u a l A i d) , a n o n - g o v e rn me n t o r g an i z at i o n th a t p ro mo t e s l o w i n co me h o u s in g . H e is a l s o a n h o n o r a ry c o n su lt a n t o f th e C e b u C ity l o c a l g o v e rn me n t o n h o u s in g an d p o v e rty r e d u c t i o n an d a me mb e r o f t h e b o a r d o f a l a r g e n u mb e r o f n ati o n a l N GO s in th e P h il ipp in e s.

A l l o f t h e a b o v e i s in b e t w e en ta k in g c a r e o f h i s e i g h t c h i l d r en , h e s ay s . H e i s 5 3 y e ar s o ld .

B i mb o b e g a n h i s c a r ee r in 1 9 6 9 a s a

c o m mu n i ty o rg an i z er o f t h e C a th o l i c C h u r c h i n t h e s l u ms o f C eb u C i t y . H e h a s s i n c e th en o r g an iz e d an d tr a in e d o r g a n i z e r s i n t h e v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e c o u n t r y . H e w a s a C h a i r ma n o f t h e P r e s id e n t i al Co m mi s s i o n f o r t h e U r b an P o o r an d a V i c e - P r e sid e n t o f th e N a t io n al H o me M o rt g ag e Fi n an c e Co r p o r a t io n in - c h a rg e o f t h e Co m mu n i ty M o rt g ag e P r o g r a m. H e w a s in j ai l fo r si x mo n th s d u r in g th e M a r c o s d i ct a t o r s h i p .

B i mb o h as h ad ex t e n s iv e tra v e l s a r o u n d A si a an d in o th e r p art s o f t h e w o r l d .

Bimbo with his wife Tessie Banayna and Pagtambayayong’s car, a Mercedes Benz in disguise.

Every year, the d sgu se improves.

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i . - i il

li .

Tessie is very active with women.

He founded Lihok Pilipina, a women’s NGO, and Bantay Banay, a reknowned program aga nst domestic v olence (Her E ma : hok@mozcom com)

Fr. Jorge produces his newsletter with the help of a number of friends from the Philippines, among them Ana Ravago-Oliveros, Apple

Edmilao-Quizon, Merian Martin-Gregorio and Gladys Ledina. His friends wrote this in 1993:

W e b eg an t o h el p h im w i t h h i s n e w s l et t e r in M ar c h 1 9 9 0 . He l p in g F r . J o rg e w r i t e i s n o t e a sy , e sp e c i a l ly fo r u s wh o d o o th e r f u ll t i me j o b s . H i s E n g li s h mu s t h a v e b e en i n fl u en c ed b y th e G r ee k l an g u ag e h e s tu d i ed in th e s emi n a ry . An d n ev e r en ding. Yo u ask him for th e me an in g of a w o rd an d h e g iv e s y o u mo r e ex amp l e s a n d u p d a t e s. Yo u fi n i s h o n e a rt i cl e , h e g iv e s y o u t wo mo r e . En c o u r ag in g h i m to u s e th e c o mp u t e r d i d n o t s o l v e t h e p r o b l e m. I t h e lp e d h i m w r i t e mo r e an d f a st e r.

B u t w e a l w a y s l o o k e d f o r w a r d t o t h e w o r k . R e a d i n g F r . A n z o r e n a i s f l y in g a ma g i c c a r p e t f l o at i n g t h e e n ch a n t e d wo r l d o f h o u s i n g .

O u r g o al wa s t o ma k e F r . An z o r e n a mo r e r e a d a b l e , b u t w i t h o u t l o s i n g h i s w o r d s a n d e s p e ci a l l y h i s v i e w s o f t h e w o r l d . F r . A n zo r e n a h a s ma n y st o r i e s . H e h a s ma n y i d e a s . B u t mo s t e s p ec i a l l y F r . A n z o r e n a i s a p e r so n s o r i ch w i t h c o n v i c t i o n a n d so mu c h a t p ea c e w i t h t h e w o r l d .