Slum Poverty in the

Philippines
Can the Environment Agenda
Drive Public Action?
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Economic Importance of the Urban Sector
• Cities have become the engines of economic growth

- Philippines has been transformed into an urban economy

Source: Yap, 2010 (based on macro model)

- Metro Manila accounts for 37 % of GDP; 12% of employment (2009)

• Large migration to cities due to economic opportunities in cities and
underperforming agriculture sector

- population growth rate 2.26% (urban) ; 0.5% (rural)

• Concentration of urban population in large cities/towns and
Metro Manila; comprise 80% of urban population.

Population in Key Urban Cities, Philippines

References: National Statistics Office; National Statistical Coordination Board; United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs
• Urbanization has been accompanied by proliferation of
slums
• Slums are growing faster than urban population
• High level of poor and vulnerable population in
slums
Slums have the most deplorable
environmental conditions

• Income poverty captures only one element of

deprivation in slums

• The larger problem is poor living conditions

= congestion, high exposure to pollution,
climate-change induced environmental health
hazards
= poor unable to develop themselves
DUMPSITE POVERTY ALONG RIVERS and CREEKS

COASTAL SLUMS ALONG MAIN ROADS/HIGHWAYS

High Population Growth Rate : Worsens
congestion problem
Key Impact Channels of Poor Living Environment
• Health:

 Epidemiological studies: poor housing environment cause or

enhance the incidence of specific diseases. Overcrowding
raises the risk of respiratory illness; contaminated water
supply and unsanitary human and household waste disposal
causes gastro-intestinal problems, skin ailments and other
infectious diseases

 Solon (1989). 40% of poor health status of slum children is

explained by congestion and poor sanitation.

 Anecdotal evidences: Congestion and noise due to congested

environment cause mental stress
Impact channels (cont’d)
• Social Fabric

 rising crimes and domestic violence in slums

 fragile family relationships due to irritation and frustration
 Poor school performance of children

• Damage to lives, property and livelihood due to fire

and climate-induced flooding

• Higher exposure to risks due to climate change

effects
Climate Change Induced Impact

 Flooding increases the risk of prolonged exposure to

water pollution

 Risk of infection of the population from E. coli due to

flood is 0.0134% for inundation depth of less than 50 cm
and 0.19% for floods above 200 cm

 Health impact of congestion is aggravated by heat waves

 Frequent flooding leads to absenteeism, lower

productivity, deteriorating quality of life.
Government National Shelter Program does not
address the concerns of urban environmental poverty
• Preference for resettlement

• Does not address the wider issue of space ; too much

focus on land tenure but even housing targets are
met by only 25%

• Water and sanitation programs do not cover wider

issues of the environment and climate change

• No town and space planning; no traffic planning

Why government should be concern about the
slum poverty?
• Environmental poverty have significant impact on
health, education, quality of life and ability of poor to
develop themselves

• Climate induced changes disproportionately increase

vulnerability of people in sums

• Negative externalities (crimes, diseases, pollution,

increase magnitude and depth of flooding)

• Less slums, attracts tourists and investments

• More productive labor market

Recommendations
• Traditional poverty program (e.g. cash transfers) will have minimal
impact on slums
• Focus on building livable communities not individual households
• Upgrade existing slums and provide effective shelter planning for
population growth
• Need to shift density: build up for the poor (up to 4 stories) and
leave space for living and playing and greening
• Improve planning systems = integrate green growth and disaster
risk management in planning systems
- cleaner slums and less CO2; facilitate more walkways and space in
slum areas as well as upgrading scooters and jeepney motors.
• Strengthen horizontal and vertical linkages to address urban
environmental issues
• Urbanization has been accompanied by proliferation of slums
• Slums are growing faster than urban population

Caloocan Cit
Caloocan Cit

Valenzuela
Valenzuela

Quezon City
Quezon City
Navotas Malabon
Navotas Malabon
Marikina Cit
Marikina Cit

San Juan
City of Mani
San Juan
City of Mani
Mandaluyong Pasig City
Mandaluyong Pasig City

Makati City
Makati City Pateros
Pateros
Pasay City
Pasay City
Taguig
Taguig

Parañaque Ci
Parañaque Ci

Las Piñas Ci
Las Piñas Ci

Slum Population ('000)

1000 - 1500 Muntinlupa C
Metro Manila Muntinlupa C

750 - 1000
500 - 750
250 - 500
100 - 250
75 - 100
50 - 75
25 - 50
0 - 25
Proportion slum to total population

2000 2020