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A Study on Housing Modifications in Resettlement Sites in Cagayan de Oro,

Philippines

Article in Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering · January 2016

DOI: 10.3130/jaabe.15.25

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 A Study on Housing Modifications in Resettlement Sites in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Sandra Carrasco*1, Chiho Ochiai2 and Kenji Okazaki3

1
Doctoral Candidate, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan
2
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan
3
Professor, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan

Abstract
This study explores the reasons for, and patterns of, housing modifications in Mahogany Village at the
Calaanan site, where permanent houses were built as part of a program to resettle communities affected by
the severe tropical storm Washi that hit Cagayan de Oro City in December 2011. The basic housing units
provided were not intended to be modified and the possibilities for adaptations were limited. However,
this research found that residents were willing to invest in the construction of complementary spaces, even
though it was considered a violation of their occupancy agreement. The construction of modifications was
driven by the low performance of the houses provided, while the need to modify them came about because
householders' needs, activities, and goals were not properly satisfied. In this study, the identification of the
patterns of modification is augmented by an analysis of the reasons behind these modifications, incorporating
consideration of demographic, economic, sociocultural, local environment, and climatic conditions. The
study's findings reveal that the local characteristics of the resettled communities and their physical context
were not taken into account during the planning stage of the resettlement.

Keywords: post disaster resettlement; dweller-initiated housing modification; Typhoon Washi; Philippines

1. Introduction squatter residents. The decision to resettle these

Resettlement involves removal of communities from communities was taken by the local authorities
an environment where they have evolved over many in the light of the impossibility of mitigating the
decades or even centuries with traditional patterns of original sites' vulnerabilities. The areas were later
adaptation (Oliver-Smith, 1991). This relationship with designated as buffer areas, or "no-build zones,"
the environment can be based on economic, political, where any construction is prohibited in compliance
or sociocultural factors, or a combination of them. with the Water Code of the Philippines. Meanwhile,
Hence, the transfer of a community to another location the principal concern in the restitution of housing
can result in the destruction of social networks, in these circumstances was the provision of safer
divisions of communities, and a reduction of members' homes situated away from the disaster-prone zones in
livelihood opportunities (Jha A. et al., 2010). the city. The national and local governments agreed
In the city of Cagayan de Oro in the southern on the construction of 8,599 permanent houses for
Philippines, the process of resettlement was a result affected communities in Cagayan de Oro. More than
of the massive displacement caused by the severe 20 resettlement sites were identified, mostly located in
tropical storm Washi that hit the region of Mindanao peri-urban areas.
between December 16 and 17, 2011. The people Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and
most affected were those residing in vulnerable other implementing agencies built basic housing
settlements near riverbanks, mainly along the Cagayan units in coordination with the local government. The
de Oro River. Thus, the targets for resettlement were approach taken for the planning and management of
the project was top-down, with limited contributions
from the local communities. The people affected were
*Contact Author: Sandra Carrasco, Doctoral Candidate, not consulted about their housing preferences, an
Laboratory of Global Environmental Architecture, omission that can lead to housing solutions not meeting
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University beneficiaries' needs or being suitable for the local
Yoshidahonmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501 Japan context.
Tel: +81-75-753-9167 Fax: +81-75-753-9187 Communities that are resettled in this way have to
E-mail: [email protected] face an unpredictable, complex process of adaptation to
( Received April 8, 2015 ; accepted November 5, 2015 ) their new environment that is not necessarily sensitive
DOI http://doi.org/10.3130/jaabe.15.25

Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering/January 2016/32 25

to a rational planning approach (Oliver-Smith and de Thus, when Typhoon Washi hit Mindanao, it had an
Sherbinin, 2014). This is reflected in the modification of unpredicted impact, especially in urban zones.
their built environment, and, more specifically, in their The areas most affected were located near the
new home. Khan (2013) defined this phenomenon of a Cagayan de Oro River (see Fig.1.). Residents of these
resident's adaptation to their environment as "spontaneous settlements were used to floods, due to the rising levels
transformation," which encompasses any alteration, of the river. However, the scale and intensity of Washi
addition, extension, or modification of a house in terms caused the total or partial destruction of around 18,436
of the form and the use of space as a result of the process houses through the ensuing floods, heavy rains, and
of inhabitation, as the expression of the beneficiaries' increased river levels. Following the disaster, the local
needs and preferences. In addition, the development of government, in coordination with other governmental
modifications or extensions may indicate, to some degree, agencies, NGOs, and civil organizations, launched an
a commitment to permanence in both the housing and the extensive resettlement program.
wider village (Oliver-Smith, 1991). The target beneficiary of the resettlement was
The present study focuses on beneficiary-initiated identified as the squatter communities residing in
modifications of the basic housing units that were built the Cagayan de Oro river basin. In order to prevent
by the Habitat for Humanity Philippines (HFHP) NGO residents returning to the riverbank settlements, the
in Mahogany Village at the Calaanan resettlement government designated them as "no-build zones"
site in Cagayan de Oro. These modifications began or buffer areas (Fig.1.), thereby prohibiting the
when the beneficiaries were allocated in groups from establishment of settlements on land categorized
December 2012. The aim of this paper is to identify as highly vulnerable. This decision was taken with
the patterns of the housing modifications and the uses reference to the Presidential Decree No. 1067 (Water
for the renovated spaces, and to analyze the reasons Code of the Philippines) regarding the strict observance
behind the construction of these modifications. of the three-meter easement of rivers.

2. Method
In order to understand the general situation at the
Calaanan site, a questionnaire survey was conducted,
covering 254 households in four villages. A detailed
study was conducted in Mahogany Village, because
its particular location, separated from other villages
within the site, brings about additional difficulties for
its residents.
Data were collected through (a) interviews with
representatives of the governmental offices and
implementing agencies or NGOs, which provided
information about the resettlement and management
processes; (b) a household questionnaire survey, with
the sample comprising 59 households out of 160
houses built, and the survey covering demographics
and household profiles, pre-disaster housing conditions,
and housing modifications implemented after the
beneficiaries' allocation stage; (c) a housing observation
survey, including a technical survey to categorize the
housing modifications; and (d) graphic documentation,
including photographs of the settlement site, community
facilities, interiors and exteriors of houses, and residents.
The information collected was analyzed with
regard to the definition of modification patterns and
the current use of the spaces built. Additionally, the Fig.1. Cagayan de Oro—Affected Areas and No-Build Zone
reasons for the modifications were analyzed in view of
the particular issues found at the resettlement site. The present study's field survey in Mahogany
confirmed that a high percentage of the residents' pre-
3. Disaster-Induced Resettlement disaster homes had been built in vulnerable areas (see
3.1 Pre-disaster Settlements and Housing "Location of former house," Fig.1.) that are now "no-
Tropical storms are prevalent in the region and build zones." These residents were aware of their
regularly affect Cagayan de Oro; however, their exposure to hazard, but had prioritized livelihood
frequency and intensity are lower here than the opportunities available in the major public markets
experienced in the north and center of the country. located nearby. Additionally, the original establishment

26 JAABE vol.15 no.1 January 2016 Sandra Carrasco

of these informal settlements had come about through used as community support offices, 80 were never
a lack of affordable land in the city and inappropriate occupied due to inappropriate location, and 37 were
measures for managing urban growth. There was no severely damaged by landslides and their residents had
security of tenure, owing to the informal nature of to be relocated in other sites. Calaanan is located in
these settlements. The proportion of residents who the peri-urban area of Cagayan de Oro, approximately
owned their house versus those who rented or shared 7.5 km from the city center and the main local public
with relatives or friends is shown in Table 1. In all the markets (Fig.1.). It was one of the first settlements at
cases, the houses were built on public land. which the implementing (NGOs and other donors) and
Table 1. Former Housing Tenure Status
governmental agencies built permanent basic housing
Tenure status % (No.) units for victims of Washi in Cagayan de Oro.
Own house 56% (33) The land is the property of the local government,
Rent 27% (16) and, before Washi, it was used for social housing
Share house 17% (10) programs. Therefore, by the time that the permanent
housing for resettled communities were built, there was
Access to basic facilities in pre-disaster settlements already some infrastructure in place, such as access
was limited, essentially because the service companies roads, transportation routes (local buses or jeepneys),
only invest in public infrastructure (drainage, water, and community facilities such as the Barangay
electricity) in officially recognized areas. Access to center, which includes governmental offices, with
water, for example, was through neighbors or direct administrative and community spaces, as well as health
from the river. Similarly, electricity was supplied in a facilities, schools, and commercial areas.
few cases via individual meters, but, for most of the Conversely, the site's proximity to the central city
residents, it was obtained by sharing with neighbors area, compared to other resettlement sites, was less
inside or outside the squatter community, through beneficial to relocated residents allocated to Calaanan.
informal connections. 3.3 Post-Disaster Permanent Housing
Moreover, the potential for exposure to typhoons, Mahogany Village is the most isolated community
floods, and even earthquakes (Lo and Oreta, 2010) within the Calaanan site (Fig.2.). The local government,
present in pre-disaster squatter settlements is evidenced which owns the land, coordinated the design of the
by the informality in housing construction and the settlement layout, land development, provision of
prevalence of poorly used, local, traditional (e.g., infrastructure and services, and the planning and
nipa leaves, coconut timber, bamboo) and makeshift construction of permanent houses, of which a total of
or improvised (tarpaulins, plastic sheets and others) 160 were built.
materials, as shown in Tables 2. and 3.
Table 2. Materials used in Table 3. Materials used in
Former Housing—Outer Walls Former Housing—Roofs
Materials % (No.) Materials % (No.)
Mixed wood + 24% (14) Mixed wood + makeshift/29% (17)
makeshift/improvised improvised
Mixed wood + local 59% (35) Mixed wood + local 5% (3)
traditional materials traditional materials
Mixed wood + concrete/ 17% (10) Wood-galvanized iron 8% (5)
stone
Concrete/stone 0% (0) Mixed galvanized iron + 58% (34)
concrete

These factors of a hazardous location, limited access

to basic facilities, and poor housing construction
determined the precarious living conditions and
vulnerabilities that resulted in the severe, post-disaster
damage to the residents' housing outlined in Table 4.
Table 4. Damage Level to Former Housing
Damage level % (No.)
Totally destroyed 88% (52)
Major damage 10% (6)
Partial damage 2% (1)
No damage 0% (0)

3.2 Post-Disaster Resettlement in Calaanan Site

Calaanan is the largest resettlement site in Cagayan
de Oro, with a total area of 26.7 ha; 2,299 houses were
built, of which 2,176 are currently occupied, six are Fig.2. Local Context and Location of Mahogany Village

JAABE vol.15 no.1 January 2016 Sandra Carrasco 27

 The basic infrastructure and services were provided The average area utilized for each housing unit
in accordance with the National Building Code of the is 21 m 2 , with the units built using conventional
Philippines and the Minimum Design Standards and permanent materials, such as concrete hollow block,
Requirements for Economic and Socialized Housing metal truss or roof supporting structure, and galvanized
Projects, regulations that specify for the provision iron sheets. The design is simple, comprising an
of access roads, water and electricity supplies, and open main space, in which residents can add internal
appropriate drainage in new settlements. The access partitions, and a restroom installed in one corner (see
road, built with concrete by the Department of Public Fig.3.). This minimalist housing design has long been
Works and Highways, connects Mahogany with the rest used in social housing programs in the Philippines
of the site. However, due to Mahogany's location, there (Manalang et al., 2002), the beneficiaries of which are
is no public transportation, and residents therefore have the marginal low-income families (represented by the
to walk or ask neighbors who have motorbikes to take lowest 30 percentile income group, with an average
them to the Calaanan terminal, and then take public annual income in Philippine pesos of PHP 62,000
buses or jeepneys to go to the city. or approximately US$ 1,400; National Statistical
Mahogany's location was also a disadvantage in Coordination Board).
terms of the provision of potable water through public During Mahogany's housing design and planning
connections, and so HFHP and the local government stage, the implementing organizations (NGOs)
built a communal well (see Fig.4.(j)) and communal provided options for extensions in order to address a
faucets. Additionally, an NGO provided a rainwater potential need for additional space; these options were
collection system for every two housing units, limited, though, to the construction of mezzanines or
comprising collection guttering and storage tanks. lofts for bedroom areas, adding an extra 12.90 m2 to
Sanitation was ensured through the installation of the overall housing floor area (Fig.3.).
one septic tank for every two housing units by HFHP
as part of the overall housing design. However, a
power supply is not in place for all the households,
as each family is required to apply to the local power
company for an individual meter. The results of the
survey recorded that 80% (47 of 59 those surveyed) of
households had individual electricity connections.
Communal facilities were observed to have been
partially provided. One of the houses is used as a
development center or office for community assistance
from the local government. There is a covered court
built with non-permanent materials that is used as a
meeting space (Fig.4.(h)), and there is a playground
and sports field, which is located adjacent to the Fig.3. Quadruplex Housing Units in Mahogany Village
settlement but on privately owned land.
For the construction of the housing units, HFHP 4. Post-Occupancy Adaptation
was assigned as the project's implementing partner or The concept of "housing performance" is based
contractor, and financed the construction in Mahogany on the premise that houses are designed and built to
through donations from private corporations (for other satisfy occupants' activities and goals (Preiser, 1989).
villages, HFHP has received funds from the National However, the level of an inhabitant's satisfaction with
Housing Authority or the Department of Social Welfare their house is unlikely to remain high permanently.
and Development). The houses in Mahogany were built "Housing stress" appears when the "level of tolerance"
by a subcontractor—the NGO All Hands Volunteers— is exceeded, creating a gap between the actual and the
and progress was supervised by HFHP. preferred housing (Seek, 1983). In fact, at any point in
The "quadruplex" design of the housing features time, householders' needs or expectations can change
four units per building (see Fig.3.). This design was simply through the process of inhabitation (Khan,
adopted through coordination with national and local 2013; Seek, 1983), and they may therefore decide to
governmental officials and with regard to standardized move to another house or modify their current one.
designs developed by the National Housing The phenomenon of "spontaneous transformation"
Authority and the Department of Social Welfare and or modification, as defined by Khan (2013), refers to
Development. It was selected because it optimizes alterations of houses carried out by their inhabitants
the usage of the limited available land for relocation, with the objective of adapting them to accomplish
promoting high density in the settlement. However, desired environmental and living conditions. In
this type of use of limited space can cause feelings of Mahogany, data collected through the survey indicated
discomfort and a lack of privacy among residents. that 69% of residents transformed their houses (41/59
surveyed households), with these modifications

28 JAABE vol.15 no.1 January 2016 Sandra Carrasco

initiated either by them or with support from an NGO Based on the construction materials used, two
(see Table 5.). That such modifications are initiated by types of modifications were defined: "durable," with
householders confirms the need to adapt the original permanent or semi-permanent characteristics, and
built environment to their personal requirements "precarious," representing temporary or transitional
and behaviors. Furthermore, during the field survey, constructions that might be gradually upgraded into
many of the non-transformer households (Fig.4.(d)) durable constructions. The materials typically used for
expressed their intention to build extensions, initially the outer walls of durable extensions were concrete
using improvised materials that, in time, could be hollow blocks (Fig.4.(f)); these are widely used in the
replaced by more durable structures. country for conventional constructions. For precarious
"Usufruct" is the system that was used to grant modifications (Figs.4.(b), 4.(c), 4.(e)) and second floors
occupancy rights to the households: householders (Fig.4.(g)), the surveyed residents used light or local
received an occupancy certificate after signing an materials (coconut lumber, nipa leaves, plywood) and
agreement with the local government. This provided makeshift materials (plastic sheets or tarpaulins).
the right to reside in the houses for a defined term of The classification criteria used to define the level
between 25 to 50 years (Oxfam, 2014), but it did not of modifications focused on internal additions and
provide any property right to the household. Thus, the the external construction of new spaces. "Internal
security of tenure was not guaranteed, including that of modifications" refers to the construction of lofts or
the additions or modifications built by the residents. mezzanines (see Fig.4.(i)); internal partitions (walls)
4.1 Patterns of Modification were not considered in the study because they do not
In this study, two types of modifications featured: incorporate additional floor area. The majority of the
modifications that are planned or allowed and those externally modified spaces were built on one story;
that are unplanned or not allowed. This differentiation however, some households had also begun to build two
is based on the conditions specified in the occupancy stories (Fig.4.(g)).
certificate granted to residents through usufruct. The available area for extensions inside each lot is
Unplanned constructions are considered informal and reduced to 16.87 m2 because of the rainwater storage
a violation of the occupancy conditions, so extensions tank shared between every two houses. Consequently,
are liable to be removed regardless of the type of some residents had started to build extensions
construction materials used. Thus, all non-allowed adjacently to their houses but already out of the lot
modifications are considered to be non-permanent. (Figs.4.(a) and (b)), and others built sub-houses
Table 5. Patterns of Housing Modification
Type Materials Level Location Uses Space
Planned (allowed) Precarious (2)
Internal (7)
(2) Inside the house (7) Service areas (7) Storage (7)
Durable (5) modifications
Combined planned
and unplanned (5)
Kitchen (1)
Resting space/laundry (10)
Service areas (15)
Kitchen–resting space (4)
+ combined with
Shop–resting space (3)
other uses (5) *
Kitchen–sub-house (1)
Inside the lot (25) *
Shop–resting space–sub-house (1)
Small shops/ Shop/business (6)
Horizontal business (6)
Precarious (30) *
(31) Shop–resting space (3)
+ combined with *
Shop–resting space–sub house (1)
other uses (4)
Combined inside/
Unplanned (not outside the lot (1)
allowed) (34) Bedroom areas (4) Sub-house (4)
*
Outside the lot (5) + combined with Kitchen–sub-house (1)
*
other uses (2) Shop–resting space–sub-house (1)
Combined precarious
and durable (1)
Service areas (4) Resting space/laundry (3)
+ combined with Kitchen–resting space (1)
*
other uses (1) Shop–resting space (1)
Horizontal (8) Inside the lot (8) Small shops/ Shop/business (3)
Durable (8)
business (3)
*
+ combined with Shop–resting space (1)
other uses (1)
Vertical (1) Inside the lot (1) Service areas (1) Resting space (1)
*
Notes: A total of 41/59 households transformed their houses; subtotal number of households presented in parentheses; = households that built
multiple extensions with more than one use.

JAABE vol.15 no.1 January 2016 Sandra Carrasco 29

 Fig.4. Mahogany Village—Settlement Layout and Types of Housing Modifications

separated from the house and the lot. This can be seen modifications encompassed demographic, economic,
in the layout and type of extensions shown in Fig.4. and social and cultural issues, and local environment
As discussed in the next section, the residents' use and climatic conditions (see Table 6.).
of housing extensions was motivated by a number Housing modifications are thought to be the
of reasons, such as a need to accommodate family expression of residents' impetuses to satisfy certain
members; a requirement for service areas for cooking, needs and behaviors. In the study's survey, residents
laundry, or storage; or as a means of an income source were asked about their motivations to construct
(Fig.4.(c)), owing to the destruction of livelihoods modifications; the results are presented in Table 7.
following the disaster and subsequent resettlements. Table 7. Residents' Motivations for Housing Modification
4.2 Reasons for Modification
Motivation % (No)
Khan (2013) stated that housing modifications are Limited space/need for privacy 39% (16)
the result of internal and/or external factors, and can Uncomfortably hot inside 26.8% (11)
be driven by multiple reasons that may overlap or Limited space + hot inside 14.6% (6)
combine. In this study, such factors were adapted to Need for income source 19.5% (8)
the situation found in the site. Thus, internal factors Total 100% (41)
were found to be the result of one or more needs of
the residents, as well as social and cultural patterns. Limited space within which to accommodate family
Additionally, in Mahogany, external factors were members or perform various daily activities inside the
defined by the local conditions. The present analysis home was the main motivation residents reported for
of internal and external factors driving housing transforming their houses. The second was a need to
address the uncomfortable heat of the houses' interior
Table 6. Reasons for Housing Modification
spaces. Together, the houses' restricted, airless spaces and
Factors Determinants Indicators Motivation
Demographic issues Density Need for space
high temperatures were a significant combined reason for
Economic issues Residents' Income source alterations, too. The need for an income source was another
Internal motivation present at the site, but was less pressing.
occupations
Social/cultural issues Local lifestyle Daily activities 4.2.1 Demographic Issues
External
Local environment/ Climatic Adapting to Floor area per person is a key indicator of housing
climatic conditions conditions local conditions quality and measures the adequacy of living space in
Note: Based on Khan (2013).
dwellings (UNCHS, 2001).

30 JAABE vol.15 no.1 January 2016 Sandra Carrasco

 high temperatures, residents typically used them for
storage. Therefore, the construction of lofts is not
necessarily related to a pressure to accommodate
family members. On the other hand, only two out of
five sub-houses were built by large families (with 11
and 12 members, respectively) and the other three
Fig.5. Occupied Housing Units by Floor Area. were built by medium-sized families (four members).
(Philippine Statistics Authority, 2010) However, the use of the sub-houses is flexible, and can
combine sleeping areas, a kitchen, and storage.
In the Philippines, there is a tendency toward high The demographic indicators show a tendency for
density and even more limited floor area per person housing modifications in both small and large families.
than the average for the region. The housing data There appears to be no direct relationship between
presented in Fig.5. reveal that 38% of the families in family size and the construction of extensions;
the country live in houses measuring less than 20m2. moreover, the incidence of modifications is higher in
Therefore, the permanent housing units each small- and medium-sized families.
comprising 21m2 built in Mahogany were considered 4.2.2 Economic Issues
to be a decent and appropriate solution, at least in Beneficiaries' financial situations may point toward
the context of the Philippines more broadly. They their likelihood to build extensions and the materials
were similar to dwellings built for social housing and that might be used. Table 10. shows data analyzed
post-disaster housing elsewhere in the country, and, according to daily family income. Unexpectedly in this
despite limited space, may even have represented context, the incidence of extensions built is higher in
an improvement of housing quality for many of the poorer families.
marginal, low-income families. However, these houses
were not exempted from modification. Table 10. Average Family Daily Income–Housing Modifications
Considering the pressures on larger families living Non- Materials of modifications.
DFI Modif.
Modif. Precarious Durable Both
in close quarters, the study's analysis should present a 0–100 100% 0% 85.7% 14.3%
connection between family size and the incidence of —
(7) (0) (6*) (1*)
modifications. However, as Table 8. shows, the major 1 0 1 – 62.5% 37.5% 70% 30%
—
percentages of modifier households were medium- 200 (10) (6) (7*) (2*+1†)
sized families, followed by small families. 200+ 66.7% 33.3% 75% 20.8% 4.2%
(24) (12) (18*) (1*+4†) (1*)
Table 8. Family Size–Housing Modifications Notes: DFI = daily family income in Philippine pesos; * = dweller-
initiated modification (funded and built); † = NGOs supported
Persons Modified Non-modified
% (No.) transformations (funds and construction).
(No.) % (No.) % (No.)
1 to 3 10% (6) 66.7% (4) 33.3% (2) Precarious modifications initiated by these
4 to 6 63% (37) 78.4% (29) 21.6% (8)
7 to 10 20% (12) 50% (6) 50% (6) households were predominant. The questionnaire
> 10 7% (4) 50% (2) 50% (2) survey results also revealed that the middle-income
families tended to build durable extensions. In the
Likewise, the construction of sub-houses and lofts higher-income group, most of the durable extensions
might be thought to be connected with a need to (lofts) were built by an NGO.
alleviate crowding in a house, building sleeping spaces Householders' occupations are another indicator that
and adding privacy for extended families (more than may influence housing modifications. Table 11. shows
one family unit). Yet, the results reported in Table 9. the study's findings in terms of the head of the family's
show that, of seven lofts built, five were supported current occupation and the extension type.
by an NGO and only two were built by residents. In
addition, just one loft was built by an extended family, Table 11. Current Household Occupation–Modifications
and three by larger-sized families. Most of the lofts Occupation % (No.) Transf. % (No) Non transf. % (No)
built belong to medium-sized and nuclear families. Laborer 32% (19) 57.9% (11) 42.1% (8)
Unemployed 5% (3) 100% (3) 0% (0)
Table 9. Demographically Related Extensions
Driver 15% (9) 55.6% (5) 44.4% (4)
Family size Type of family
Extension No. Shopkeeper 10% (6) 100% (6) 0% (0)
1–3 4–6 7–10 10+ Nuclear Extended
Construction 17% (10) 70% (7) 30% (3)
14.3% 42.9% 28.5% 14.3% 85.7% 14.3%
Lofts 7 Hawker 7% (4) 75% (3) 25% (1)
(1*) (2*+1†) (1*+1†) (1†) (1*+5†) (1*)
83.3% 16.7% 100% Other 14% (8) 45% (6) 25% (2)
Sub-houses 6 — — — Notes: * = dweller-initiated modification (funded and built);
(5*) (1*) (6*) †
*
Notes: = dweller-initiated modification (funded and built); = NGO-supported modifications (funds and construction).
†
= NGO-supported modifications (funds and construction).
Non-skilled residents, such as laborers and hawkers,
Lofts were originally intended for use as dormitory experience instability in their jobs, because of the
spaces. However, due to the houses' uncomfortably distance to their places of work in the city and public

JAABE vol.15 no.1 January 2016 Sandra Carrasco 31

 markets. Nonetheless, they are willing to build 5. Conclusions
extensions. Residents who built their house extensions This study explored the patterns of housing
for use as small grocery stores and other businesses felt modifications and the reasons for their construction,
significant pressure to obtain an income source. which change in accordance with the beneficiaries'
Overall, this analysis of economic issues revealed adaptation to this new environment through the process
that residents do not feel limited by work instability or of inhabitation. This process generated a variety
lower incomes. A similar inference was made regarding of self-built structures, which were limited by the
the construction of durable extensions, which are built available lot area. However, the needs and preferences
by higher- and lower-income families. of residents underpin the tendency for and motivation
4.2.3 Social and Cultural Issues to extend their living space.
Communities' social and cultural patterns may also The construction of extensions is unavoidable, as it is
play a role in residents' decisions to build extensions. the result of the process of inhabitation and is essential
In this study, the uses for such extensions help to for dwellers' adaptation. Therefore, such extensions
define the reasons for their being built, as these daily should be taken into account at the planning stage and
activities often reflect a society's customs and habits. flexibility in the housing design should be increased
It was expected that residents' activities would be accordingly. This would support the proactive attitude
performed inside of their homes, as extensions were observed within residents' inclination to transform their
not allowed. Instead, the priority was to expand the houses regardless of their economic situation.
living spaces outside of the housing units, regardless of Consideration of local conditions—identifying
the conditions of occupancy. patterns in beneficiaries' daily activities and family
Table 12. demonstrates the sample residents' structure characteristics, livelihood opportunities, and
tendency to build service areas for cooking, storage, an understanding of the local climate—is critical for
and resting spaces that are combined with laundry. the provision of suitable housing and the construction
of locally sensitive solutions. The present study might
Table 12. Use of the Extensions be complemented by further analysis of housing
Type of spaces % (No.) modifications in the middle and long term in order to
Bedroom areas 9.8% (4) understand the impact on households of resettlement
Combined bedroom and service areas 2.4% (1) programs, which would also prove useful for the
Service areas 53.6% (22)
improvement of resettlement and social housing
Combined service areas–shops 9.8% (4)
Small shops/business 22% (9) programs in the Philippines in the future.
Combined bedroom–service areas–shops 2.4% (1)
Acknowledgments
This finding can be explained on account of the We would like to acknowledge the support of the
absence of service areas inside the houses, but also Office of Civil Defense, the government of Cagayan de
because of the traditional and popular kitchen types Oro, and the residents of Mahogany Village.
in poorer Filipino communities, which are typically
located outdoors and use a "dirty kitchen" or stove References
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32 JAABE vol.15 no.1 January 2016 Sandra Carrasco

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