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 Peoples Homesite
Corporation (PHC) as the first government housing agen cy 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 Doa Teresa Tuazon at P0.50 per sq.m.
PEOPLES 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 Peoples 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 Cit y 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 project s, 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 p opulation 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 affordabili ty 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 envi ronmental 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.