VP Binay: include
informal settlers in decision-making process
By OVP Media
April
20, 2012
MANILA – Vice
President Jejomar C. Binay Friday urged the housing sector to involve
slum-dwellers in the decision-making process in projects for slum
upgrading and sustainable urban development.
During the National
Informal Settlements Upgrading Strategies (NISUS) Conference at the
Manila Hyatt Hotel, Binay noted that decision-makers and stakeholders
are resistant to upgrade policies because of their negative perception
of informal settlers.
The housing czar said
informal settlers are seen as “too poor to pay for infrastructure and
improvement of services.”
“This (NISUS
conference) is about shifting paradigms to collectively generate
doable solutions to the urban housing problem,” he said, adding that
such change should involve the empowerment of the beneficiaries of
slum upgrading.
"Kailangan nating
bigyang dignidad silang mga kapos sa yaman. At dapat na sa pagbibigay
nito, kabahagi sila mula pagplano hanggang pagsasagawa ng mga programa
at proyektong laan para sa kanila, at hanggang pagtalaga ng mga
responsableng taga-monitor ng progreso at pagtatapos ng programa at
proyekto," Binay emphasized.
Binay cited examples
of successful applications of informal settlement upgrading strategies
which, according to him, attest to the possibility of effectively
implementing the NISUS.
Among them are the
Upscaling Urban Poor Community Renewal Scheme (UUPCRS) and the Urban
Partnerships for Sustainable Upliftment, Renewal, Governance, and
Empowerment (UPSURGE), which were initiated by the Partnership of
Philippine Support Service Agencies Inc. (PHILSSA).
UUPCRS highlighted the
effectiveness of community-based and demand driven approach. UPSURGE,
on the other hand, showed the success of LGU-NGO partnership and
incorporation of shelter concerns into the city development plan and
government structure in informal settlement upgrading projects.
"When communities are
fully involved in the identification, design, and implementation of
projects, they prove to be effective partners in informal settlement
upgrading work," the Vice President attested.
The NISUS conference
was part of the preparatory activities leading to the development and
adoption of the informal settlement upgrading strategy in the
Philippines. In May 2011, the Housing and Urban Development
Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chaired by Binay entered into a
partnership with Cities Alliance to implement the NISUS.
The Cities Alliance
granted HUDCC with US $455,000 to develop a strategy that would
provide reference and support the key thrusts of the government in
developing sustainable communities and the formulation of a National
Government Resettlement Policy.
The NISUS project will
also support the implementation of the 2011-2016 Philippine
Development Plan by promoting awareness, involvement, ownership,
accountability, and partnership in informal settlements upgrading
initiatives among the concerned stakeholders.
This will help LGUs
identify policy and program options for local informal settlements
upgrading that should be integrated into the local planning documents
such as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Comprehensive Development
Plan.
The NISUS conference
featured Andre Bald, Senior Infrastructure Specialist from the World
Bank, and Anaclaudia Rossbach, consultant for World Bank on housing
and metropolitan governance, who talked about informal settlements
upgrading in Vietnam and Brazil, respectively.
Meanwhile, local
speakers included Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela City,
National President Ofelia Bagotlo of the Homeless People's Federation
Philippines, Inc., and Wilfredo Prilles Jr., coordinator for the City
Planning and Development Office of Naga City.