Abstract

In this study, the researchers focus on the Quezon City Housing Project No. 3 situated in Brgy. Escopa II,
which serves as a noteworthy response to the housing crisis in the Philippines. The research is designed to
evaluate the project's effectiveness by scrutinizing government policies, the quality of housing, affordability,
and the overall well-being of the community it serves. We also delve into the various challenges associated
with land tenure, property rights, and socio-economic issues, all of which intersect with the broader housing
crisis. Furthermore, we conduct an in-depth analysis of resident satisfaction with the housing facilities,
offering valuable insights for potential enhancements. Through the accomplishment of these objectives, this
study contributes to a comprehensive comprehension of the housing project, ultimately guiding the
formulation of policies and initiatives aimed at mitigating the nationwide housing crisis.

CHAPTER I: PROJECT BACKGROUND

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Housing or shelter is unquestionably one of man's necessities; according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it
is rated second after food, but other people believe it is the most essential of all needs. The issue of
informal settlement is nothing new in the Philippines. After World War II, it became a severe issue in
Manila, where a huge number of war victims put up improvised dwellings called Barong-Barong within
abandoned private parcels of land and even lived in danger zones regions like river creeks. For more than
50 years, the persistent rise of the population of informal settlements in Metro Manila and other highly
urbanized areas of the country has been a nagging issue (Sta. Maria & Simbre, 2019)..

A third of all households in Quezon City live in slum neighborhoods because they cannot afford to rent, let
alone buy, suitable dwellings. Most of them do not have regular earnings, and those that do, such as public
school teachers, have such low incomes that they cannot afford good housing at market prices. For many
years, the government of Quezon City relied on the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Socialized
Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) to provide low-cost housing units for the poor. However, these
organizations' housing programs fell short. As a result, the LGU decided to launch a more comprehensive
program in 2010 (Galingpook, 2014).

The Quezon City administration is preparing to increase the beneficiaries of its socialized housing project,
Bistekville, by completing 800 dwelling units for the city's underprivileged households. (Mayor's Pabahay).
For years the Quezon City government relied on the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Socialized
Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) to provide low-cost housing units for the poor. But the housing
program of these agencies fell short. Thus, the LGU decided to come up with a more multi-dimensional
program beginning in 2010.

First, the LGU came up with a shelter plan to systematically study housing needs, causes and solutions.
Then, it organized and upgraded its departments to establish a structure with multi-stakeholder participation
and tasked it to coordinate and develop sustainable solutions to the housing and resettlement problem. It
also enacted revenue measures to generate and mobilize funds for the housing project. Lastly, it entered
into partnership agreements with land owners, housing developers and civic organizations to expand the
resources and facilities for its low-cost housing program.

1.2 PROJECT BACKGROUND

The project structure is designed so that the Housing, Community Development and Resettlement
Department (HCDRD), which was formerly the Urban Poor Affairs Office, has to team-up with the Housing
Board, the Task Force on Socialized Housing and Blighted Areas, and the Mayor’s Office to address the
various facets of the program such as engineering, social services, planning and development, housing and
resettlement. The HCDRD was tasked with the identification and census of informal communities, the
planning and programming of effective resettlement solutions, social preparation, provision of livelihood,
and guides to estate management and community administration.

With the Idle Land Tax and the Socialized Housing Tax, the LGU is able to generate about PhP70 million
and PhP250 million a year respectively to finance the in-city socialized housing projects. To date, the LGU
has eight low-cost housing projects that can accommodate 2,367 households. The target is to keep
dwelling unit construction costs to less than PhP450,000 so that the beneficiaries can afford the repayment
terms. Financing is done through the Pag-ibig Fund and SHFC loans for those who qualify and can afford
the amortization. The other beneficiaries can avail of LGU in-house financing, which has an interest rate of
5.1% and a graduated monthly amortization starting at PhP1,500 for the 1st year, with an increase of 10%
each year until the 5th year and PhP2,500 on the 6th year onward until the 30th year.

Quezon City’s socialized housing program aims to create slum-free communities by transforming them into
well-organized housing projects with multi-purpose facilities through which the government can extend
public services such as health and day-care education. This way, the upgrading of the living conditions of
the poor and the removal of urban blight are achieved simultaneously. Under the program, the urban poor
communities participate in formulating housing policy and social preparation activities. The private sector is
also well represented. As a result, the program has elicited their cooperation, which is in stark contrast to
the resistance of informal settlers to previous resettlement programs.

The Escopa Property is divided into four barangays - Brgy. I, II, III, and IV. The property is a government
property and is in the public domain. It covers an area of roughly 9.29 hectares and is earmarked for the
use of the Social Welfare Administration (now DSWD). Residents of Escopa have been working hard over
the years to obtain legal title to the property they have occupied. However, because no law was enacted
that revoked or changed the pertinent Proclamations, the property remained with the DWSD.

1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Most of the housing facilities in the Manila urban environment often prioritizes functional requirements over

the user's experience, while this is ideal from a business standpoint, it results in a design that focuses

solely on putting more people in a certain area which creates an atmosphere that can negatively impact

users' well-being. To address this issue, there is a need to explore alternative approaches to housing

problems and its architecture that prioritize users' comfort and financial capabilities. However, the issue of

Housing is very broad and finding the correct research to a certain issue posed difficulties. The Philippines

in general faces a multitude of problems in regards to the lack of affordable housing facilities and its design.

To obtain all the necessary knowledge, data and information in the subject, the study sought to answer the

crucial questions as follow:

 1. What are the design features of housing facilities in Manila urban environment, and how do they

impact the user’s experience?

2. What design elements can be incorporated into different housing facilities in the Manila urban

environment to create a functioning design that prioritizes users comfort, and how can they be integrated

into the existing functional requirements of housing?

3. What are the potential benefits and challenges of incorporating different design approaches in

housing facilities of Manila urban environment, and how can they be addressed?

4. What is the potential of incorporating architectural applications and approaches in the issue of

the housing crisis in the country, and how can it contribute to solving the problem?

5.. What recommendations can be provided for the housing facilities in the Manila urban

environment, which can improve the user's experience and contribute to solving the multifaceted issue of

the Housing crisis in the country as a whole.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to better understand housing solutions in underprivileged areas. Among
the goals we want to achieve with this research and information are the management and planning of
potential housing projects in the Philippines and other nations with similar circumstances.
The following are the study's key objectives:
1. To analyze the effectiveness of existing government policies, initiatives, and programs within
the chosen community, assessing their impact on housing conditions and community well-
being.
2. To assess the overall quality and accessibility of the housing project, including its affordability,
amenities, and the satisfaction of its residents.
3. To investigate the various challenges faced by the local community in relation to land tenure,
property rights, and socio-economic issues, with a focus on how these challenges intersect
with the housing crisis.
4. To conduct an analysis of resident satisfaction within the Housing Project, specifically focusing
on their perceptions of the condition and quality of the housing facilities.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The case study of the Quezon City Housing Project No. 3, located in Brgy. Escopa II, holds significance in
addressing the housing crisis in the Philippines. This housing facility serves as an important case study due
to its potential to provide affordable and adequate housing, which is a pressing issue affecting millions of
Filipinos across the country. By examining the design, construction, and affordability of the housing facility,
the researchers can gain insights into its viability as a solution to the housing crisis and inform future
housing policies and initiatives. The significance of studying this housing facility also lies in its potential to
address the urgent need for affordable housing in the Philippines. The country faces a severe shortage of
housing units, particularly for low-income families. By analyzing the affordability aspect of the Quezon City
Housing Project No. 3, researchers can assess its effectiveness in providing a viable housing option for
those who are economically marginalized. Understanding the project's success or challenges in terms of
cost can contribute to the development of strategies and policies that aim to make housing more accessible
and affordable for a larger segment of the population. Additionally, studying these housing projects can also
shed light on the problems, difficulties, and issues that the current housing facilities face. By
comprehensively analyzing these issues at the micro level, the study can highlight the immediate
challenges faced by residents, shedding light on their living conditions, socio-economic struggles, and
overall well-being. In conclusion, the significance of this study lies in the Quezon City Housing Project No.
3 ability to serve as a model to determine the efficacy of housing initiatives and programs in the local
community as well as to examine the issues that affect the success of this project. By delving into these
interconnected aspects, the research extends its significance beyond the immediate locality and contributes
to a comprehensive understanding of the nationwide housing crisis.

1.6 PROJECT SCOPE AND LIMITATION

The scope of the case study of Quezon City Housing Project No. 3 includes:

 The examination of design elements of the housing project, focusing on its practicality and
sustainability
 The identification of sets of problems and issues that the local population in that area faces
 The exploration of the potential of the housing project in solving the countrywide housing crisis
 The investigation of the feasibility and practicality of incorporating an architectural approach in the
Housing Project No. 3 in Quezon City
 The provision of analysis and recommendation for the housing project of Quezon City which can be
adapted to different settings and populations of other cities.

The case study of the Quezon City Housing Project No.3 limitations are as follows:

 The availability of data on the housing project target, as this housing project is relatively new and
government available data is either limited or takes too long to receive
 The focus on the design and sustainability aspect of the housing project, which includes its
practicality and affordability
 The limitations of subjective responses in assessing the practicality of the housing project, as this
may vary depending on the interviewed individual experiences and perception

1.7 PROJECT FRAMEWORK

The project framework follows the standard IPO model in gathering the necessary information, data and
knowledge required to analyze the case study of Quezon City Housing Project No. 3. The main purpose of
the case study of the project is to critically examine its practicality, sustainability and affordability of the
housing project as well as to gather recommendations which can help solve the housing crisis of the
country. The IPO model provides a simple but effective process on scrutinizing the gathered data to reach
conclusions and as well provides recommendations that will help structure the project/case study. The
process is as follows:
 Table. 1.1

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Idle Tax. Is a tax on the unimproved value of land, typically levied by a government. This type of tax is
different from traditional property taxes because it only taxes the value of the land itself, not the value of
any structures or improvements on the land.
Informal Settlers. Is a term often used to describe people who live in informal or unauthorized settlements,
often in urban areas.
Infrastructure. Refers to the basic physical and organizational structures, facilities, and systems needed
for the functioning of a society, community or an enterprise.

Household. A group of people who live together in a single dwelling or residence and share common
living arrangements, including domestic activities, such as meals and budget management.
Land Tax. Is a tax imposed on the value of land owned by an individual or entity. Unlike property taxes,
which may include the value of both land and any structures or improvements on the land, a land tax
focuses solely on the unimproved or raw land value.
Locality. Refers to a specific place or location, especially within a particular region or area. It is often used
to describe a geographic area that can be characterized by its unique features, such as its physical,
cultural, or social attributes.
Loft Type House. Is a residential dwelling that is designed and constructed with characteristics commonly
associated with loft apartments or industrial loft spaces. Often characterized by its use of high ceilings to
support an upper area for additional space.
Urban City. A place characterized by the dense population, economic activity, and infrastructure
associated with urban living.
Urbanization. Is the process by which an increasing proportion of a population shifts from living in rural
areas and villages to residing in urban areas, such as towns and cities.
Settlement. refers to a specific place or location where people establish a community or reside.
Stakeholders. Are individuals, groups, or entities that have an interest or concern in a particular
organization, project, decision, or issue. They are often affected by or can affect the outcomes, processes,
or results associated with the organization or situation.
Sustainability. Is a concept that refers to the ability to maintain or support something over the long term
without depleting its essential resources or causing significant harm to the environment, society, or
economy.

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES

2.1 PRIMARY INFORMATION OF QUEZON CITY

Quezon City is located in Metro Manila's northeast corner. Caloocan City and San Jose del Monte City in
Bulacan Province border it on the north, San Mateo and Marikina on the east, Pasig and Mandaluyong on
the south, San Juan and Manila on the west, and Valenzuela, Caloocan, and Manila on the north. The
Novaliches Watershed and the Marikina River form its northeastern and eastern borders, respectively. It is
the largest of the sixteen (16) cities and one (1) municipality in the region, with an area of 16,112.58
hectares (based on 1995 GIS graphical map), and is about one-fourth the size of Metro Manila.

Quezon City, the Philippines' most populated city, has altered the lives of thousands of families living in the
city's underprivileged areas. As the city struggles with homelessness and informal settlement in high-risk
areas, Quezon City's socialized housing plan was created to give citizens a better quality of life through
inexpensive and safe housing. The informal settler families are guaranteed well-built accommodation in
secure areas, mostly in the city, with the goal of avoiding displacement from employment and present
income-earning prospects.

The National Housing Authority coined the phrase "informal settler." (NHA) refers to families who live on
land that is not theirs. Squatting is defined as occupying a piece of land or a structure without the owner's
consent, whereas slum habitation entails residing in houses that are so decrepit and overcrowded that they
offer a health, fire, and a crime risk. The informal settlement issues in the Philippines were examined.
Squatters who squat due to poverty are divided into two categories: (1) Professional squatters are
squatters who squat for a living.

The socialized housing initiative in Quezon City intends to turn slum communities into well-organized
housing developments with multi-purpose amenities through which the government may spread public
services such as health and day-care education. This manner, the poor's living conditions are improved
and urban blight is removed at the same time. The initiative involves urban disadvantaged communities in
the development of housing policy and social preparatory activities. The private sector is heavily
represented as well. As a result, the initiative has elicited their participation, which contrasts sharply with
informal settlers' hostility to prior relocation schemes.

2.1.1 GEOGRAPHY
2.1.1.1 Site Characteristics
Quezon City is located in Metro Manila's northeast corner. It is flanked on the north by such as Province of
Bulacan, Caloocan City and San Jose del Monte City, on the east by San Mateo and Marikina, on the
south by Pasig and Mandaluyong, San Juan and Manila, and on the west by Valenzuela, Caloocan, and
Manila.

The project Bistekville 3 is located in Libis, Quezon City. Libis is located on Luzon island, one of the major
islands in the Philippines. The following are the coordinates of the Project: 14.6151, 121.0749 (14° 37'
North, 121° 4' East). 21.1 meters (69.2 feet) above sea level is the estimated elevation.

Fig 1 Libis Barangay Map

Elevation
Quezon City's geography is characterized by undulating hills. The city lies within the catchment region of
five river systems, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Tullahan, and Meycauayan, as well as their creeks and
tributaries, totaling almost 200 kilometers (120 miles). According to the 1995 GIS graphical layout, the city
has a land area of 161.11 km2 (62.20 sq mi), making it the biggest Local Government Unit (LGU) in Metro
Manila in terms of land area.

Fig. 2 Elevation Map

2.1.1.2 Natural Hazards
Flood
Flood forecasts show a water height of up to 1.5 m, mostly in Escopa III roadways, while landslide risks
research found that Escopa II can be damaged by unstable slope masses in the southwest. As a result,
certain tiny areas are designated as no-dwelling zones, others require slop protection and interventions,
and the others are just to be regularly watched. There are institutions in the region such as a police station,
a childcare center, and a Center for Health Development Region IV-B (less than 1 km from Escopa III).

Fig. 3 Hazard Map

Fault Line
Escopa is located 18 to 30 meters west of the West Valley Fault. The biggest danger affecting the informal
community Oval Area in Escopa III, which houses around 500 people, is a landslide seen at the northeast
limit of Escopa. 70 ISFs. Flood episodes, which occur once every 25 years on average, damage Escopa II-
IV, as well as Barangay Marilag on the east boundary and the Industrial Valley on the west.
Fig.4 West Valley Fault Map
The West Valley Earthquake fault runs through Quezon City. PHIVOLCS has previously warned about
potential West Valley Fault activity. The West Valley Fault may produce a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, which
is nearly as powerful as the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015, while the East Valley
Fault might produce a magnitude 6.2 earthquake.

2.1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Quezon City was established in 1939 as the Philippines' future postcolonial capital. Inspired by the
Commonwealth Government's social objectives (formed in 1935), the settlement was intended to define
modernism, equality, and the Filipino soul in architectural and environmental form. Despite the objective of
designing Quezon City to be "better planned" and "more beautiful" 1 than any existing urban settlement in
the Philippine Islands, it is mostly neglected in Asian urbanism historiography.

It is the largest city in Metro Manila, the Philippines' National Capital Region, in terms of population and
land size. The Batasang Pambansa Complex (the seat of the House of Representatives, the lower
chamber of the Philippine Congress) and the Quezon City Reception House (the current residence of the
Vice President of the Philippines) are the most prominent government offices in Quezon City. Quezon City
is also home to the national university, the University of the Philippines Diliman, and the Ateneo de Manila
University.

Fig. 5 QC

Prior to the establishment of Quezon City, the land was populated by the minor settlements of San
Francisco del Monte, Novaliches, and Balintawak. On August 23, 1896, the Katipunan, led by Supremo
Andrés Bonifacio, launched the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish Empire at Melchora Aquino's
house in Pugad Lawin (now known as Balintawak). In the early twentieth century, President Manuel L.
Quezon envisioned a city that would become the country's future capital to replace Manila. His earlier
journey to Mexico City, Mexico, is thought to have inspired his vision.
Despite having over three million inhabitants, Quezon City, the Philippines' largest municipality, has been
disregarded in terms of early urban growth and planning. While it is widely assumed to follow Daniel
Burnham's American City Beautiful paradigm, this narrative overlooks certain critical characteristics. Filipino
architects pioneered creative solutions to social and environmental problems in the 1930s. Furthermore,
Filipino architectural and urban design ideas, like those of other Asian countries, led to the concept of
citizenship. Transnational city planning methods were firmly established by the late 1930s.

2.1.3. ECONOMY
The City's economy is still dominated by small to medium-sized businesses involved mostly in the
distribution of finished goods and the provision of basic services. Overall, the tourism sector in Quezon
City continues to be a key contributor to the country's economic growth, and it is therefore regarded as one
of the tourist destinations in the Philippines. tourists from South Korea, the United States of America,
Japan, and China make up the majority of tourists.

Quezon City is expected to be the most populous in the coming decades, with a population growth rate of
4.6% and a projected population of 3.8 million. Income levels are predicted to rise as the youthful urban
working population, the majority of whom are unmarried and ready and able to spend, advances to
supervisory and management jobs. In the coming decades, the Quebec population, median age, and life
expectancy will all rise to 3.9 million, 31.7 years, and 73.9 years, respectively. It is expected that new job
skills would arise, necessitating worker retooling. According to the literature, technical abilities to function in
a distant environment; cognitive skills such as critical thinking and solid project management; and social
skills such as teamwork, adaptation, and resilience are all important.
Fig. 6
The economically active population or those in the labor force. accounts for 60.3% (1,298,533) of the
working-age population, which includes both employed and unemployed people. Using the NCR rates,
employment has been estimated to be 93.4%, representing around 1,212,830 of the city's population, with
7.2% or 87,324 underemployed (those working less than the required 8-hours per day and still searching
for further jobs). Males are more likely to be employed (55.8% or 676,759) than females (44.2% or
536,071). Unemployment, on the other hand, is estimated to be 6.6%, or around 85,703 people in the city.
 Table.1 Labor Force in NCR/Quezon
Because of the scarcity of job possibilities, many people are obliged to participate in small-scale
entrepreneurial operations that are mainly unregistered, unregulated, and unmonitored. These are
individuals who are sporadically engaged in entrepreneurial operations on a full-time, part-time, or seasonal
basis and do not generally pay taxes. Section 4 of the City of Quezon Ordinance No. SP-2512, S-2016 also
known as "The Quezon City Informal Economy Ordinance," classified informal economy workers into
home-based workers (own account/self-employed), vendors, transportation sectors, non-corporate
construction workers, and others such as street workers, waste workers, and volunteer service workers in
private and public sectors.

2.1.4. DEMOGRAPHY
The site is located in Libis, Quezon City. The population was 4,208 according to the 2020 Census. This
accounted for 0.14% of Quezon City's total population. In the 2015 Census, the household population of
Libis was 4,007 people divided into 926 homes, with an average of 4.33 people per household.

Table. 2 Fig. 7 Household Population

Libis' population decreased by 2,253 persons over the span of 30 years, from 6,461 in 1990 to 4,208 in
2020. The most recent census numbers for 2020 show a 0.98% rise, or an increase of 190 individuals, over

the previous population of 4,018 in 2015.

Table. 3 Growth Rate

2.1.5.1 URBANIZATION
Metro Manila has one of the biggest populations in the Asia Pacific Region in the globe.
Metro Manila is a megacity, with a population of about 11.8 million people dispersed throughout 17 local
government units in 2010 (NSO, 2012). According to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements
Study (UN-HABITAT, 2010), Metro Manila is one of the world's rapidly urbanizing megacities, ranked 14th
out of 20 megacities, with a population estimated to reach 14.8 million by 2025.

Fig. 8 Metro Manila Urban Expansion Map

n the 2017 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), Quezon City was declared the Overall
Most Competitive highly urbanized city in the country, followed by Manila and Pasay, while Naga, Legazpi,
and Antipolo, in that order, were designated the Overall Most Competitive component cities.

Fig. 9 CMCI Index

IIt has a thriving local economy. Quezon City has consistently been cited as one of the most competitive
cities in the Philippines, and it was recently named the Overall Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City by
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the 2022 ranking of its annual Cities and Municipalities
Competitiveness Index. The Commission on Audit (COA) has also named it the wealthiest city in the
country as of 2021, with assets worth around PHP 451 billion.

2.1.5.2 AVERAGE LABOR INCOME

According to the results of the 2015 Family Income and Expenditures Survey (FIES) performed by the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Filipino households had an average monthly income of P22,250.00 in
2015. It climbed by 13.6% from the previous year's average monthly income of P19,583.00. Families in the
National Capital Region (NCR) earned an average monthly income of P35,417.00 in 2015, an increase of
12.1% from P31,583.00 in 2012. In the lack of more recent income statistics, NCR values have been used
to represent those of the city, given that the city's population is 14 times that of the NCR.

Table. 4 Average Family Income, Expenditure and Savings Philippines, NCR and Quezon City: 2003 –
2015