In Barangay Malis

It was sultry that day. Sweat and grime clung stubbornly to the skin. There was the din of traffic and jackhammers. The pungent scent of dust kicked up from the old roads they were drilling, and the smoke from the noxious exhaust of old cars penetrated deep into the lungs. Heat and dryness were in the air, but the land told a different story.

For the residents of Barangay Malis, there has never been a day when the land was ever dry, and the situation worsens with the very infrastructure development that once brought the residents to Barangay Malis now being both the cause and the supposed solution to their current plight.

Where it began

Urban development projects have long been the driving force behind relocation in Guiguinto, Bulacan. In Barangay Tuktukan, nothing is permanent. Over the decades, many residents have been uprooted and continue to be displaced due to the relentless sprawl of what is believed to be progress. 

The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project, the common reason for the relocation, is part of the Philippine Government’s initiative to connect and stimulate economic and urban growth in Metro Manila's northern and southern regions.

Courtesy of Department of Transportation

However, the highly populated urban areas made acquiring access rights for the NSRP difficult. 

In some instances, buildings and bridges had to be demolished or realigned to accommodate the project. One of the complications of the existing urban infrastructure was a high transmission tower line operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

The swelling urban development and the soaring working population inevitably lead to the proliferation of slums.

Due to the surge of foreign investments driving the swift development of urban projects in critical areas and the city's main thoroughfares, informal settlements are now perceived as obstacles to the progress sought by major construction firms. This perception prompts both local and national authorities to coordinate the demolition and relocation of these settlers.

As rural migrants flood the city, the subsequent rise in slums and unemployment is frequently dealt with cursory. 

The superficial action of the government was apparent when walls were erected to hide informal settlers from the view of visiting foreign dignitaries and investors along boulevards leading to the airport during the time of Imelda Marcos. It was apparent when hundreds of homeless families were forcibly removed from the streets during the Papal visit in 2015.

Courtesy of Philippine Airforce Public Information Office

While relocation may provide informal settlers or people who lived in slums with a place to call home, what remains appalling is that they are left to bear the brunt of the expenses and adjustments, all because capitalists are voraciously hungry for land.

Like in Guiguinto, the construction of factories and the expansive railway project have compelled families to leave their homes and adapt to new environments. Seeking refuge, they all converge upon Barangay Malis.

Where they are

Barangay Malis lies considerably distant from Barangay Tuktukan. It requires a roughly five-minute tricycle ride, typically costing around thirty to fifty pesos. The route to this destination winds through desolate roads, which felt too lonely and seemed a world apart from the bustling highway where the tricycle once was.

Barangay Malis has everything essential for a thriving community. It has a tricycle terminal for convenient access to transportation. The barangay office is staffed with officials who are accommodating to visitors. Numerous sari-sari stores and eateries line its streets. A school educates the young, while a nearby market supplies their daily needs. By all means, it is complete and provides everything that an ordinary person needs in a community. 

However, the growing community of Barangay Malis comes with many problems as it is now teeming with relocated residents. Each passing day adds to the influx of people compelled to adjust to an unfamiliar community and rebuild their lives from scratch. Each day brings more people from different backgrounds and experiences, all thrust into the same neighborhood, all with unique upbringings and lifestyles. 

Felicita Sonatorio, a resident relocated to Barangay Malis, shares that her biggest problem is establishing rapport with her neighbors. Residents in Barangay Malis come from different places, hailing from Tabang, Bangkal, and Tuktukan, among others. She said the contrast among neighboring households is stark—one may have a pristine facade, while the next is marred by dirt and debris.

Her neighbors' attitudes also vary, which leaves her with little choice but to tolerate their differences.

Although differences in personalities and ways of life happen, for Maria Victoria, it is a blessing that there is no crime on a daily. While incidents occur in Barangay Malis, they are not frequent enough to threaten residents' safety.

Decades ago, when Maria Victoria was relocated to Barangay Malis, which was then a barren green field, she reminisced about the early days when the first settlers helped each other to build their homes. They relied on each other in a true bayanihan spirit, as they were each other's sole support in the nascent community.

A clear divide exists among residents in Barangay Malis: those residing in houses supported by Gawad Kalinga and sponsored by Kiko Pangilinan occupy the forefront, while the rest live in Northville, where homes are acquired through payments to the National Housing Authority (NHA).

Where they fell

The National Housing Authority is the only national agency mandated to provide homes for low-income households. NHA was assigned to spearhead a comprehensive housing program encompassing housing development, resettlement, financing sources, and government-private sector collaboration. Despite its mandate to assist low-income families with housing needs, NHA faces various challenges in fulfilling this role.

Courtesy of PhilStar

Despite existing policies, several mechanisms need review to enhance operational efficiency. COA noted beneficiary selection issues, noting instances where applicants received housing units despite incomplete documentation or failing to meet criteria. Additionally, unclear income thresholds result in high-salaried government employees and OFWs accessing housing meant for marginalized groups.

The NHA charter is expected to expire in July 2025, but some House and Senate bills request its renewal for another 50 years. However, during a phone interview with Ms. Gracely Hortinela, a staff member of Urban Poor Associates, she revealed that many residents oppose the renewal of NHA's charter due to numerous concerns. These include delayed production, insufficient building supplies, incomplete projects, slow housing unit transfers to recipients, ineffective collection methods, and low collection efficiency. 

On the other hand, the residents of the Gawad Kalinga (GK) community have received their houses for free, sponsored by Senator Kiko Pangilinan and the Gawad Kalinga organization, a Philippine-based movement dedicated to poverty reduction and nation-building. 

In Barangay Malis, Gawad Kalinga provided 32 houses at a cost of 72,000 pesos each, significantly lower than the 300,000 pesos required from the relocated residents in Northville, who had to pay the NHA.

Only 50,000 pesos were provided to the Northville residents to rebuild their deconstructed lives. When the payment is not updated, a penalty is added to their debt. 

Despite differences in housing, the residents all experience the same problems.

Where they share

Ms. Gracely shared that in relocation, families may separate due to the distance between spouses. At the same time, some lead to job loss or difficulty finding new employment. Some resort to theft out of desperation due to hunger. 

Additionally, she said that the common problem for children is the struggle to adjust, especially with enrollment in new schools. Living conditions are also unsuitable—houses lacking proper doors, submerged toilets, or unfinished construction.

Unlike their former home in Tabang, their new house lacked essential features like lights and a roof. In Tabang, her husband's job at the slaughterhouse was conveniently nearby, but his commute became much longer in Barangay Malis.

However, among other problems, the constant flooding made them wonder why it still hasn’t been solved. 

Belen expressed her grief as she described how this issue is causing more problems for the community.

The root of the problem lies in the small concrete pipe culvert and the storage where the wastewater accumulates. Despite understanding the source of the issue, Belen and other community residents mentioned that their local officials have been unable to identify the correct location to excavate the reservoir.

“Ngayon, kung aayusin mo man, wala ka namang map para ma-trace mo kung saan talaga yung dapat mo na hukayin,” Belen said.

She suggested that before this issue began, the engineer responsible should have handed over the plans to someone else once he was no longer connected to the project. 

They should have transferred the map showing the drainage system's flow and the locations that need excavation to direct the wastewater to the river.

Due to the drainage problem, the community frequently experiences flooding, often forcing residents to evacuate and take refuge in the local school. But their dilemma does not end with the flood. Belen mentioned that when residents are forced to stay in the school, some are accused of stealing school supplies.

Belen also shared the unfair treatment they receive from their local official. She said the community official only favors those who voted for them during the election. They give unequal treatment to those people who did not vote for them even after they won.

Belen believed that these problems of their community could be resolved if they had a just and respectable official. In her perspective, the people must unite with their local officials to have a better living situation. However, this is not the case.

“Walang boses yung mga tao dito, kasi ‘pag tinapalan ng tatlong libo, hindi na magsasalita,” she said.

Presently, residents in Northville are confronted with a dilemma regarding their flooding issue: the NHA is elevating the road, a patch-up solution to their problem, but this merely redirects the water flow to the homes of other residents who have not yet raised their properties.

“Dapat kasi magkaisa ‘yan. Kung magaling ka mamuno, magkakaisa ‘yan—na sabay sabay kayong magtataas or walang magtataas. Para hindi darating ang araw [na] kawawa rin yung natabunan,” Belen added.

From the relocation process to the present day, the community has been grappling with the inadequate support provided by the government. Despite identifying potential solutions for their challenges, these issues will persist without sufficient assistance from authorities.

Besides the flood and local officials, transportation is also a problem for Malis residents. Similar to Reimy Estrada, Belen also struggles with the expenses they must have for transportation. 

Tricycle fares range from 30 to 40 pesos in Barangay Malis, which is not directly accessible from the highway. Commuters must take a tricycle to reach the main road to catch a jeepney. For residents who work far from home, a significant portion of their earnings goes toward transportation costs.

When Belen was still working in Makati, a large sum of her earnings went to transportation; hence, she decided to end her work there.

“Sa pamasahe, una mahirap dahil malayo [at] mahal. Dati nasa along the highway na kami. Pag lakad mong kaunti, nandoon na, sasakay ka na ng jeep; dito sasakay ka ng tricycle. Thirty to forty [pesos] ang tricycle, isang tao lang ‘yun, so mahal. Mahal ang papalabas, so kung lalabas ka dito, kailangan i-budget mo o kaya i-plano mo na ang paglabas mo. [Dapat] marami ka nang pupuntahan.”

One of the primary challenges relocated residents face is likely the cost of living in a new environment.

Jocelyn explained the importance of these payments. “Talaga naman dapat, kasi yung binabayad namin, ipapatayo rin ng ibang bahay din para sa mga nirerelocate.” 

Failure to pay for 3-5 months could result in their house being locked up.

Recalling the early days in their new home, Jocelyn shared that initially, they faced challenges as they lacked transportation and the fares were costly. Moreover, there was no electricity or running water, only access to a water well. 

During the first few years of their relocation, they underwent adjustments. It took them three years to adjust to their new life entirely. But, as time passed, their situation gradually improved.

As the first residents relocated under the GK program, they initially faced a lack of establishments. However, over time, significant development occurred. New businesses emerged, including a ‘talipapa’ for raw ingredients. Jocelyn expressed her satisfaction with her community.

“Halos lahat naman ng kailangan namin nandito na—may talipapa kami, may mga computer shop kami rito, may center, may eskwelahan..”

Jocelyn also highlighted differences between residents relocated under the GK program and those under the National Housing Association (NHA). She believes the attitudes and behaviors of NHA residents who did not undergo the same seminars as GK residents differ.

“Tapos sa buong barangay magulo kasi ang daming siga, gusto nila sila yung pangalan, tapos sa mga ayuda, mahilig sila sa pulitika; namemersonal sila.”

Elections bring mixed emotions to Barangay Malis. Some residents feel dismayed when their chosen candidates lose, while others rejoice. This division often affects the distribution of financial aid and services.

“Kapag ‘di ka kaniya, hindi ka niya bibigyan ng pabor. Kaya pag hindi manok mo ang nanalo, manahimik ka, wag ka umasa na magkakaroon ka.”

Jocelyn believes that barangay officials focus too much on events unrelated to community issues, overlooking problems like theft and drug use. 

“More on ang pinagtutunan nila ng pansin yung mga happenings, mga outing. Hindi nila binibigyan [ng pansin] yung tunay na pangangailangan ng community. Kasi dito, uso nakawan, uso ang drugs. Bata [o] matanda, nagdodroga, nagbebenta. Ba’t di nila masolusyunan?”

Issues such as floods and clogged drainage are common in Malis. Water is everywhere in the alley, which is not typical under the scorching sun. 

The main problem is that the water from some houses flows onto the road because there is nowhere else to go. As a result, the waste intended for their houses ends up on the road.

“Kaya ginagawa ata nila, tinataasan nila yung kalsada. Ngayon ‘pag tinaasan nila si kalsada, ang tapon ng tubig [ay] sa kabahayan, so kailangan din nila magpataas ng bahay. Ganun yung mangyayari kaya malaki talagang gastusin.”

A true leader must hear their followers' sentiments. Jocelyn hopes officials will take action benefiting all residents, not just their allies. 

“Sana ibigay nila yung totoong tulong sa totoong nangangailangan, hindi sa mga kamag-anak, hindi sa mga kaibigan.”

She also recommends programs for children who do not attend school and for residents involved in drug use and sales. 

Jocelyn is aware of individuals who may receive leniency due to their connections, but she hopes for fairness and impartiality in dealing with such matters. She also advocated for community livelihood programs, noting that they could diminish idle gossip and enhance productivity within the community.

Where they should be

Despite the numerous issues regarding NHA, there are Non-government Organizations (NGOs) that help the displaced residents, cope with their situation. Urban Poor Associates is an NGO registered with the Philippine Government that helps relocated people with their housing rights.

The UPA organizes those who are being forcibly and illegally evicted to resist through nonviolent means, such as going to court, enlisting the aid of well-known individuals, such as church leaders, visiting the mayor in delegations, using the media, or receiving support in other ways. 

Courtesy of Urban Poor Associates

Along with their research regarding food and hunger-related concerns, they also study the implications of evictions on women, children, and the financial stability of the relocated households.

In Barangay Malis, the absence of basic amenities like water and electricity upon relocation caused hardships for residents like Reimy Estrada, whose incomplete houses required immediate repairs. This highlights the necessity for fully prepared living conditions before relocation to ease the adjustment period and improve immediate living conditions. 

Additionally, effective and impartial local governance, as emphasized by Belen Perez, is crucial for community development, as issues like favoritism hinder progress. Transparent and fair governance practices are necessary to establish a cohesive and supportive community environment. 

Proper drainage system planning and maintenance are critical to address persistent flooding, as residents like Belen Perez and Jocelyn Maragi emphasized. Comprehensive flood management systems, including well-planned drainage networks and regular maintenance, are essential for improving living conditions. Engaging experienced engineers and utilizing accurate maps can address drainage problems effectively.

The economic burden of relocation, including transportation costs, is significant for residents like Reimy Estrada and Belen Perez, impacting their financial stability. Monetary support and job creation initiatives, such as subsidies for transportation or local job opportunities, can help them adapt financially.

Strong community support systems, like those initially fostered by Gawad Kalinga, can facilitate better integration and mutual aid among residents. Sustaining and expanding these programs, including educational seminars and workshops, can promote unity and collaboration. Monitoring and feedback mechanisms are essential for regularly assessing the community's needs and concerns, ensuring continuous improvement in support services and infrastructure. Future relocation projects can create cohesive, thriving communities by implementing these recommendations.

In essence, the story of Barangay Malis reflects the larger urban development problems that countries worldwide face. It serves as a reminder that actual growth entails not only the construction of infrastructure but also the development of communities. As we oversee the complexities of urbanization, let us heed lessons from Barangay Malis and strive for development that is not only sustainable and efficient but also compassionate and inclusive.

Only then can we create livable and truly thriving cities for all.

By Kaycee Anne Dionio, Angel Nicole Hipos, and Fatima Sillah