Half of the city’s 380,313 citizens belong to the
urban poor. They live in 87 blighted communities scattered
within nine barangays, areas considered by government as
sites for priority development. To address this problem,
a tripartite partnership was formed between the city government,
the Muntinlupa Development Foundation, a non-government
organization and the people’s organization. With a
budget of P17 million, this group designed and implemented
a human settlements program that facilitated access and
security of land tenure to 246 families or 1,005 beneficiaries.
The Office of the Mayor evaluated the request of community
associations for technical assistance, and an interim financing
body recommended the approval and release of funds. The
NGO acted as institution builder and originator; and the
PO participated in planning, implementing and managing the
human settlements program.
In solving the housing problem, the local government
used three approaches, namely, land banking, community mortgage
and on-site development. The result is an organized community
where people have actual ownership of the residential lots
their houses stood on. With this came a stronger sense of
responsibility, evidenced by 100% collection efficiency,
better health and sanitary conditions, and safer and peaceful
environments. What was notoriously known before as “Pook
Diablo” has been transformed into a “Bagong
Paraiso.”
