HPFPI Steers Social Preparation Activities for Iloilo City’s River Rehabilitation Project

Outgrowing from its long-standing collaboration with the Iloilo City government in co-designing secure tenure and housing programs in the city, the Homeless People’s Federation Philippines Inc. is again participating in a huge and complex development undertaking- the social preparation involving the families affected by the Iloilo-Batiano River rehabilitation project. The HPFPI together with the Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office, National Housing Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development Office and its city-level counterpart, the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and other key departments of the Iloilo City government comprise the adhoc committee whose function is to implement community mobilization and organizing processes in preparation for the eventual displacement and relocation of project-affected communities.

Among the major activities spearheaded by HPFPI with the support of Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, Inc. and its network communities were:

(1)  the conduct of a general assembly to disseminate first-hand information about the planned dredging of the whole stretch of Iloilo-Batiano Rivers and the resulting displacement of residents therein;

(2)  gathering and consolidation of responses, issues and sentiments of affected families that were subsequently tackled in the plenary sessions of Iloilo -Batiano River Rehabilitation and Development Council (IRDC);

(3)  organized the first-ever exposure visit to the resettlement and housing site developed by the National Housing Authority for Iloilo River Rehabilitation project-affected families.

Albeit limited funding resources, the HPFPI is considering also the possibility of partnering with DSWD Region VI in providing affordable housing for those who will not be catered by the NHA housing project using a counterparting scheme. However, this move is carefully being studied as this would likely entail intricacies in procurement and housing construction procedures, of which HPFPI has no exclusive control.

Just recently, the federation together with its technical support arm, Technical Assistance Movement for People and Environment, Inc. (TAMPEI) conducted the mapping of structures and profiled households along the riverbanks of Boulevard, Molo, which forms part of the Batiano River. These were carried-out jointly with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office and Iloilo City Urban Poor Affairs Office.

In so far as it can be ascertained, the Iloilo-Batiano River Rehabilitation Project since its conception has prompted several developments in Iloilo City. This is noticeably seen for instance in the reduction of illegal structures along major waterways, functional drainage systems and the adoption of integrated solid wastes management strategy. The HPFPI however sees the need to go beyond the environmental and physical aspects of the project. It gives prime consideration to the immediate and long-term social impacts as the river rehabilitation project deals with the very critical component of the urban fabric. In this case, it is the people who would be directly affected and will soon be displaced as a result of the planned development intervention. It is in this very context that HPFPI continues to take the leading role in advancing the plight of the urban poor sector and legally take part in various processes that better the welfare of its members.