COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

UNIVERSTIY OF SANTO TOMAS

ESPAA, MANILA

REACTION PAPER

SUBMITTED BY:
KAIZER T. MACATIAG

SUBMITTED TO:
AR. HERRERA

SUBMITTED ON:
November 13, 2015

Reaction Paper
The dream of more than four million homeless Filipinos: A roof over one's
head, a decent home.
Enter the homes of Filipinos living under the bridge, along the railways and
sidewalks, and witness how they live. Most of these "informal settlers" have
come from the provinces, with the hope of having a better life in the city. The
result of this migration is a tremendous increase in the number of homeless
Filipinos in the cities.
The government's response was to create housing projects and relocation
sites. This solution, however, has had its own predicaments. For instance,
having no clean water, no electricity and the place is located near a
dumpsite. To top it off, the site is very far from the city, making it
inconvenient for residents to find any form of livelihood.
Of course, from the governments point of view, the shortcomings aren't their
entire fault. They also blame the people who lack discipline, such as those
who sell the rights of land awarded to them and those who work with
syndicates that fake some documents to sell land.
Through case studies from housing community program models from the UST
architecture week exhibit, this assessment is made of the quality of life that
specific relocation sites provide, measured in terms of space allocation and
provision of amenities in relation with the minimum standards set by the
National Building Code and assessing its appropriateness.
The common standards provided by the code:
The dwelling shall occupy not more than ninety percent of a corner lot
and eighty percent of an inside lot, and subject to the provisions on
Easement on Light and View of the Civil Code of the Philippines, shall
be at least 2 meters from the property line.
Every dwelling shall be so constructed and arranged as to provide
adequate light and ventilation.
Every dwelling shall be provided with at least one sanitary toilet and
adequate washing and drainage facilities.
Footing shall be of sufficient size and strength to support the load of
the dwelling and shall be at least 250 millimeters thick and 600
millimeters below the surface of the ground.
Stairs shall be at least 750 millimeters in clear width, with a rise of 200
millimeters and a minimum run of 200 millimeters.

There shall be at least one entrance and another one for exit.
Although the code has been followed, it has been followed in such a way
where the minimum standards are used. The way that the resources were
used was clearly for that the users will have the minimum of what they would
need. For example, for every unit, there is no visible room for laundry
activities; the living room and dining area has been cramped up in a small
space that would provide difficulties to use at the same time.
Words with not be enough as a fitting conclusion towards what our
capabilities are providing for the people in need. Here are some images to
provide some criticism to what the housing project is portraying.

The images above are just examples of what we can be providing and the
images below are what we have been providing.

The planning for the design No, the planning for all the housing designs in
the Philippines is obviously in need of improvements.