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Population Article
Lisa* and her family moved to Manila on 1991 due to the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo which devastated their home in Pampanga. Her family decided to live a new life here in Manila. However, because the crops that were their main source of income were destroyed by the lahar, Lisa�s father was only able to bring a meager amount of money that was not enough to rent an apartment here in the city.
Having nothing to return to in Pampanga, her family was firm with their decision to stay here in Manila. They built a shanty beside the railways which served as their home. Their house was just one of the thousand houses built beside the railways by people who don�t have their own land to live in.
The City Dwellers
Population in cities, such as Metro Manila, is growing rapidly. This was caused mainly by the migration of the people who were drawn to the promise of a better life in the city. Much of them were attracted to the opportunities that the city might offer them, such as employment.
However, the cities do not have enough opportunities for all the people who lived there. Some city dwellers were unemployed, some do not have permanent jobs, while some were self-employed.
In 1991, the incomes of about 31 percent of people living in the cities fell below the poverty line. These people are the urban poor.
Their Concerns
The urban poor dwell in areas that do not have livable conditions. For example, most of them live in the squatters� area, near dump sites or beside railroads. These areas are inhabitable due to the risks that it poses in their lives.
People living in Payatas, for example, are constantly in danger because of the diseases that they might get from the dump site plus the fact that the tons of garbage there might collapse anytime just like what happened 2-3 years ago. People living beside the railroads, on the other hand, are constantly on alert because of the threat of being run over by the train. This year alone, more than five cases of being hit by the train were reported at the Philippine Railway Company.
They also have problems regarding transportation. People above the poverty line can afford to commute and even have their own cars, the poor cannot. It was just recent that the jeepney fare has increased from P 4.00 to 5.50. The fare increase limited their access to education and employment. Even relocation does not work for them because of the given reasons.
The poor also suffer the most from environmental hazards. Every emission of smoke from cars causes bronchitis and tuberculosis for the people living beside roads because they are the most exposed.
They do not also have sufficient water supply and the water that they get are heavily polluted and contaminated with bacteria that can cause diarrhea. Areas that gets flooded easily such as Navotas and Malabon, have higher risks of contamination. Their health are always at risk due to lack of clean water, toilet facilities, sanitation and solid waste disposal. In Blumentritt, the poor built their houses beside the road and over the �esteros.� During the morning, they take a bath beside the road and discharge their wastes directly at the estero.
The unemployment of the urban poor may also be caused by their lack of education. Instead of studying, some of the children were forced to work for their families to eat 3 times a day.
Violence was also a problem for the urban poor. During the night, the streets of Tondo are flooded with violence. Gang wars and rumbles are regular events for these people. Worse, not only older men were victimized during rumbles but also teenagers were getting killed during gang wars. Adding to the problem was the proliferation of alcohol and drugs. The project of former Manila Mayor Fred Lim, which was to spray red paint in the doors of suspected drug pushers, was mostly used in this area. However, many people became critical and complained of his harsh actions.
Suggested Solutions
In the city, the price of land has been continually soaring sky high which made it hard for city dwellers to afford their own homes. Thus, the poor decided to build their homes in places that are uninhabitable. Poverty would be lessened if the government would be able to secure lands for houses to be built in, consequently the poor would be able to construct their own houses.
Having improved living conditions would also mean improved services in water, toilet facilities, sanitation and solid waste management. To improve the water service in Blumentritt, the government has built a water tank for the residents to use any time of the day.
What Now?
The urban poor have chances to improve their living conditions, only if the government would really do something about it and act now.
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