Magisterial Lectures | Mary Racelis, PhD - Demanding A Place in The City

Summary

This script discusses the transformation of the urban poor in Metro Manila, Philippines, from 'squatters' to 'informal settlers', highlighting their struggle for better lives and recognition of their rights. It emphasizes the role of NGOs and community organizing in empowering them and the government's recent efforts in providing secure and affordable housing. The speaker also addresses the need for a solidarity economy, inclusive development, and the importance of the urban poor's contributions to the city's economy, advocating for their right to the city's resources and services.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ The urban poor in Metro Manila, once called squatters, have evolved into informal settlers who are striving for better lives and recognition of their rights.
• 📈 Over time, these informal settlers have organized and connected with government bodies to secure safe, adequate, and affordable housing, reflecting their transition from being marginalized to being acknowledged by society.
• 👥 The urban poor are not just migrants but include multiple generations of city-born individuals who consider themselves urbanites, despite living in challenging conditions.
• 🌐 The community is diverse, with varying economic levels and ethnic backgrounds, and they have formed their own social strata and support networks within the urban environment.
• 🏡 Informal settlers often live in makeshift housing along riverbanks, under bridges, and in vacant lots, adapting creatively to the urban landscape.
• 🌱 Despite facing numerous challenges such as poor sanitation, lack of basic services, and the threat of eviction, these communities are resilient and continue to improve their living conditions.
• 💪 Women often lead these communities, demonstrating strong organizational skills and advocating for fair distribution of resources and participation in decision-making processes.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The aspirations of the urban poor are focused on securing tenure, access to services, and participation in community development, with an emphasis on education for the younger generation.
• 🤝 NGOs and civil society groups play a crucial role in empowering the urban poor, helping them form people's organizations and advocating for their rights and inclusion in the formal economy.
• 🌟 The urban poor contribute significantly to the city's economy through the informal sector, providing essential services and supporting the city's infrastructure.
• 🌱 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the strengths of local communities, which have shown resilience and resourcefulness in the face of crisis, organizing to support each other and adapt to new challenges.

Q & A

What was the initial term used to describe the urban poor in Metro Manila and why was it changed?

The initial term used was 'squatters' because they moved into any available space to build their shanties. It was changed to 'informal settlers' over time as they became organized and started making demands of the authorities. NGOs and civil society groups felt 'squatters' was demeaning, as these people were striving for better lives.

How have the urban poor in Metro Manila been able to secure better housing conditions?

The urban poor have been able to secure better housing conditions through their strong efforts and organization. They have connected with the government, both national and local, to provide decent homes. This has resulted in construction of safe, adequate, and affordable housing in areas where they have organized.

What role have NGOs and faith-based groups played in empowering the urban poor?

NGOs and faith-based groups have played a significant role in empowering the urban poor by helping them form people's organizations. This has given them a sense of empowerment and rights, enabling them to be recognized with dignity and respect as citizens.

Why do the urban poor in Metro Manila prefer to stay in the city despite the challenges?

The urban poor prefer to stay in the city because they believe it offers better opportunities for a better life. Even though they face challenges such as relocation to distant areas with limited job opportunities, many return to the city due to the availability of jobs and resources.

How has the perception of the urban poor evolved over generations?

The perception has evolved from seeing them as migrants to recognizing them as urbanites. Many of the urban poor were born in the city, and now there are four generations of urban informal settlers who consider themselves city dwellers.

What are the common misconceptions about the urban poor in Metro Manila?

Common misconceptions include viewing them as law violators, drug addicts, and criminals. However, many are ordinary families striving for a better life, and the communities are often characterized by mutual support and resilience.

How have the urban poor adapted to living in various challenging environments in the city?

The urban poor have adapted by living in makeshift housing along riverbanks, under bridges, and in vacant lots. They use the walls of nearby buildings as their own walls and have found creative ways to live within the city's constraints.

What are the aspirations of the urban poor for their families and communities?

Their aspirations include secure tenure, decent and affordable housing, access to services like health clinics, schools, and places of worship, and participation in decision-making processes. They also focus on education for their children as a means to improve their socio-economic status.

How have women in the urban poor communities played a significant role?

Women have emerged as leaders in these communities, often because they are consistently present and knowledgeable about the community's needs. They are adept at organizing, negotiating with authorities, and ensuring fairness in the distribution of resources.

What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the urban poor and how have they responded?

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the strengths of local communities, particularly the urban poor, who have had to find ways to deal with the crisis independently due to the slow response of the government. They have connected with NGOs, church groups, and even international donors to secure short-term help.

How do the urban poor contribute to the economy of Metro Manila?

The urban poor contribute significantly to the informal economy through various roles such as jeepney drivers, tricycle drivers, construction laborers, security guards, and street vendors. They support the city's economy by providing essential services and labor.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Urban Poor Transformation in Metro Manila

The first paragraph introduces the topic of urban poverty in the Philippines, focusing on Metro Manila. It discusses the evolution of the urban poor from being labeled as squatters to informal settlers, highlighting their organization and advocacy for better living conditions. The speaker emphasizes the change in perception facilitated by NGOs and academics, who found the term squatter demeaning. The narrative outlines the struggles of these communities over decades to gain recognition and secure, affordable housing, which has been partially achieved through government initiatives. The paragraph also touches on the formation of people's organizations, empowered by NGOs and faith-based groups, aiming for dignity and respect within the system.

05:01

🤔 The Complex Reality of Urban Informal Settlers

This paragraph delves into the complexities of the urban informal settlers' situation. It discusses the initial migration to cities due to poverty and conflict, and the subsequent generations born in the city who now identify as urbanites. The speaker notes the significant population of informal settlers in Metro Manila and the challenges they face, including relocation to distant areas with limited job opportunities. The paragraph also addresses the diverse economic levels within these communities and the ethnic differences. It describes the living conditions of the urban poor, including issues with sanitation, water, electricity, and the environmental impact of their living situations.

10:03

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Aspirations and Community Life of Informal Settlers

The third paragraph focuses on the aspirations of the urban poor for secure tenure and affordable housing, access to services, and participation in decision-making. It emphasizes the importance of education for their children as a means to enter the formal sector and improve their families' lives. The speaker also discusses the formation of genuine communities within informal settlements, where people care for one another, especially during crises. Women are highlighted as leaders in these communities, known for their organizational skills and ability to negotiate with authorities. The paragraph also touches on the role of NGOs in supporting these communities and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their resilience and self-reliance.

15:03

🛠️ The Role of Informal Settlers in the Urban Economy

This paragraph examines the contribution of informal settlers to the urban economy, detailing the various jobs they hold, such as jeepney drivers, construction laborers, and street vendors. It points out the characteristics of the informal economy, including its unregulated nature and the flexible hours that allow women to balance work and family responsibilities. The speaker argues that despite their significant economic contributions, informal settlers are often overlooked in economic calculations and face challenges such as eviction and lack of legal protection. The paragraph also discusses the government's perspective on urban poor sites and the need for a more inclusive approach to urban development.

20:04

🌟 Opportunities for Transformational Change

The fifth paragraph discusses the potential for transformational change in the face of crisis, using the current pandemic as an example. It calls for a shift in focus towards a solidarity economy that prioritizes people and the environment over profit maximization. The speaker suggests that this change should include poverty reduction, improved access to health, education, and housing, and a reorientation of national and local budgets. The paragraph also addresses the issue of elite domination in the economy and the need to support small and medium enterprises, expand social protection schemes, and build up community strengths for self-sufficiency.

25:05

📢 The Urban Poor's Right to the City

In the final paragraph, the speaker argues for the urban poor's right to the city and its resources, emphasizing their status as citizens with rights that should be recognized and respected. The paragraph discusses the role of local government in responding to the needs of communities and the importance of community involvement in planning and budgeting. It also highlights the wealthier groups' reliance on the low wages of the urban poor to maintain their lifestyles and the need for a more equitable distribution of resources. The speaker concludes by reflecting on the country's Christian values and the opportunity presented by the pandemic to create a new normal that is caring, socially just, and committed to human rights for all.

Keywords

💡Urban Poor

The term 'Urban Poor' refers to individuals residing in cities who lack sufficient income and resources to meet basic needs. In the video, they are the central focus, particularly in Metro Manila, where they have transitioned from being called 'squatters' to 'informal settlers'. The script discusses their struggles and aspirations for better living conditions, highlighting their resilience and contributions to the city's economy.

💡Informal Settlers

Informal settlers are individuals who have built homes on state or private lands without legal tenure. The video script describes how they have organized and made demands of authorities, moving from a derogatory term 'squatters' to a more recognized status. Their efforts have led to some receiving safe and adequate housing, illustrating their quest for dignity and rights.

💡NGOs

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are non-profit organizations that operate independently of government, often to address social or environmental issues. The script mentions NGOs as instrumental in organizing the urban poor, helping them gain a sense of empowerment and rights, and facilitating connections with government for better housing and living conditions.

💡Resilience

Resilience in this context refers to the ability of the urban poor to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. The video emphasizes the resilience of informal settlers, who, despite living in challenging environments, strive to improve their lives and adapt creatively to city living.

💡Eviction

Eviction is the legal removal of a tenant from rental property. The script discusses the forced evictions faced by informal settlers, often without adequate alternatives, leading to relocations that distance them from job opportunities and resources, exacerbating their living conditions.

💡Relocation

Relocation in the script refers to the government's efforts to move informal settlers from their current locations, often to areas outside the city. While intended to provide safer living conditions, these relocations have been criticized for lacking job opportunities and resources, leading to many returning to the city.

💡Community Organizing

Community organizing is the process of building and developing a group of people with a common interest to take collective action and make their voices heard. The video highlights how community organizing has empowered informal settlers to participate in decision-making, advocate for their rights, and improve their living conditions.

💡Informal Economy

The informal economy consists of economic activities and workers not regulated by the laws or regulations of a country. The script describes how the urban poor participate in the informal economy, providing essential services and contributing significantly to the city's economy, despite facing challenges such as lack of legal protection and recognition.

💡Solidarity Economy

A solidarity economy is an alternative economic model that emphasizes cooperation, mutualism, and communal ownership over competition and profit maximization. The video suggests that a solidarity economy could prioritize people and the environment, advocating for inclusive and sustainable development that addresses poverty and income disparities.

💡Social Protection

Social protection refers to the policies and programs designed to protect individuals from economic and social vulnerabilities. The script calls for the expansion of social protection schemes, such as cash transfer systems and health insurance, to support the urban poor and reduce their vulnerabilities.

💡New Normal

The 'New Normal' is a term used to describe the changes in everyday life and societal structures following a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The video uses this term to advocate for transformative changes in values and attitudes, particularly towards the urban poor, to create a more caring, socially just, and inclusive society.

Highlights

The urban poor of Metro Manila have transitioned from being called squatters to informal settlers, reflecting their organization and demands for better living conditions.

NGOs and civil society groups have played a crucial role in empowering the urban poor and advocating for their rights.

The government has increasingly recognized the urban poor's right to safe, adequate, and affordable housing, leading to construction projects in organized settlements.

Many urban poor are not migrants but have been born in the city, with some families having four generations of urban settlers.

Informal settlers contribute significantly to the city's economy through various roles in the informal sector, despite facing challenges such as eviction and poor living conditions.

The urban poor have organized to demand better living conditions and have seen some success in achieving secure tenure and improved housing.

Resettlement efforts for the urban poor have often been ineffective, with many relocated individuals returning to the city due to lack of job opportunities in new areas.

The urban poor live in a variety of locations, including riverbanks, under bridges, and in close proximity to affluent areas, demonstrating their resilience and adaptability.

Women often emerge as leaders in urban poor communities, utilizing their deep knowledge of community issues and effective negotiation skills.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the strengths of organized urban poor communities in self-help and resource distribution during crises.

The urban poor are not just a problem but a solution, contributing significantly to the city's economy and services.

The informal economy, in which many urban poor participate, is characterized by unregulated work, flexible hours, and a lack of legal protection.

Crises can lead to transformational changes in society, with the potential for more inclusive and sustainable development models.

Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of solidarity and making space at the table for everyone, rather than just sharing crumbs.

The urban poor have a right to the city's resources and services, and their contributions should be recognized and valued.

The Philippines, despite being a Catholic country, has one of the highest income disparities in Southeast Asia, indicating a need for greater focus on social justice.

The pandemic presents an opportunity for significant change towards a new normal that is caring, socially just, and committed to human rights for all.

Transcripts

[Music]

greetings

i'm very glad you're here with me to

talk about a subject of great importance

that is the urban poor of the

philippines but particularly

the urban poor of metro manila whom i

know best because i have

done research with them and for the last

many many years at the beginning they

were called squatters

because they moved in from a province to

whatever space they could find that they

could build maybe their shanties

and find a better life for themselves in

their families

but over time because they got organized

and

they began to make demands of the

authorities

uh that they began to be called informal

settlers

in a way it was also because the ngos

and civil society groups academics

with whom they worked felt that to call

them squatters was

too demeaning when in reality these are

people

who are striving for better lives in the

city

because they know that's where the

opportunities lie

so this is a story today of how

people have moved from quote squatters

to become

informal settlers with a sense of who

they are of what

they have a right to and how they're

going to achieve it through great

struggles

with a society that by and large for a

long time didn't agree

that they had those kind of rights but

this process has been happening over

decades

and now in the last few years actually

their their strong efforts have

succeeded in many cases

and government has provided what they

have always

wanted which is safe adequate

uh you know secure housing affordable

housing

for them and their families you will see

now construction going on

where people have organized and

connected with government

whether national or local to provide

decent homes for them

so that's a story i want to talk about

how people's organizations have been

formed with the help largely of ngos

some church-based groups faith-based

groups to

enable them to gain a sense of

empowerment and a sense of rights

and that there are people who who are

citizens of the country

who want to be recognized you know with

dignity

and to be respected that they work in

non-violent ways because they want to

get into the system they're not really

overthrowing the system they want to

become

part of it and that is the subject of

today's discussion

all right so let me talk to you more

about the urban poor

as informal settlers you know who are

they

people as i said already first who want

to make a better life

for their families in the city uh

initially many years ago they came from

the provinces

why because of poverty they had a

landlord who didn't seem to

who didn't agree with their tenancy

arrangements there was warfare

fighting and the city seemed to be the

place where

maybe they could have some future for

themselves and their children

so the tendency is to think of the urban

settler

or settlers as migrants yes they were

at the beginning and to to some certain

extent many of these communities have

continuing migration but the bulk of

them now

are people who were born in the city a

generation

of the children of those migrants who

had their own children and their own

children

we now have four generations of of urban

uh informal settlers so they are of the

city they consider themselves urbanites

uh they they their peers their friends

they go to school the young ones there

they they all watch the same tv shows

they like the same actors and actors and

so on

so they are city people right uh

there are approximately three and a half

million in metro manila

who have been conceived who are

considered informal settlers

although in the last 10 to 15 years

many of them were relocated to usually

distant areas

outside the city where unfortunately

the facilities mainly for jobs for

them to continue to have an income were

too limited

where the local governments were often

very turned off by them because they

didn't want the national government

dumping the metro mayoral problems into

their adjacent

communities kavita laguna bulacan and so

with that kind of

perspective half the population of those

who were relocated

usually under a lot of pressure by

government

have come back to the city to find

locations usually in other informal

settlements so the problem was not

solved

fortunately today there's much better

recognition in government

that their resettlement if they are

really in danger zones

has to be in the city where the jobs are

where the resources are

well so people came occupied what was

then vacant land and they constructed

their

makeshift housing but over the years as

their fortunes improve a little bit

the houses improved not too much because

they always face relocation so why

should they build up

a decent housing themselves if anything

if they had extras they would buy a tv

welding machinery or whatever they

needed for their daily lives

where where do you find them all right

you you look if you just

look riverbanks along um

esteros along under the bridges

under the overpasses in all kinds of

vacant lots often right

next to big big buildings fancy

buildings

where the walls of the buildings become

their walls also so

very creative ways of adapting to the

city

uh it's important to know you know

actually even

cemeteries uh this is uh what we're

discovering

uh that people live in cemeteries they

will

clear out november 1 just before but

they do help clean up the lot so they

have a stake in the place

in other words these are striving

resilient people

we call them the urban poor that's

really misleading because

they are a huge variety of people just

in terms of economic levels

just say poverty which we tend to think

of them as poor people

even though they are striving and many

of them are moving up in the circles

but there are levels of poverty of

socio-economic

levels and they themselves when you ask

them what are the category how do you

make distinctions among themselves and

they say um

maybe ten percent make kaya naman if

they've been there a long time somehow

they've found a way to earn

but also you have the other end which

are

you know the really poor ones who are

that's you know so they have their own

levels they're also ethnic differences

some come from

lately others from longer areas and so

on you'll find initially

the clusters are language groups because

they know somebody there they move there

because their kabbabayan is there and

they get adjusted to the city that way

but as their children marry they marry

one another so there's a lot of mixture

and that's how

an urbanite is born a filipino

who comes from many different heritage

bases right

the reality of course is that they have

lived in really dehumanizing conditions

crowded housing ramshackle

as although i said as they build it they

try to improve it over time but there

are limitations

sanitation terrible no toilets from any

case those who live in the river it's

very convenient you throw

your refuge there but that's a problem

now because

we're also concerned about the

environment as they are

garbage all over the place the trucks

can't enter so

how do they clear that flies you know

dogs around there

feces of dogs kids are often barefoot or

in slippers

uh lack of water lack of electricity

muddy pathway and so on

that's the standard picture and but it

varies tremendously

also in how long people have lived there

and made investments in their own

communities

nonetheless all through these years what

have been their images

as violators of the law

because they are squatting where they

shouldn't be it's not their right

that they're drug addicts that they're

there's a lot of crime there's a lot of

prostitution

uh to some extent of course that's there

but if you really go and

live or not necessarily live but talk to

people be with them

you see that a huge proportion are

ordinary families

who want to make a better life for their

for their children

so but nonetheless what they have always

faced is eviction

supposed to be voluntary but often when

they have very few alternatives

they feel forced out and they go some go

willingly others less so

but the problem is they have been

relocated to

far out of the city sites which are

cheaper for government to acquire

to purchase but which have no

no income possibilities for them as we

already said

all right so let's talk about them they

are people who come to the city

or who have been born here still living

in those uh

very dilapidated areas but they have

aspirations basically that they would

have secured tenure

decent affordable housing right by their

places of employment

so they can feed their families and

bring them to a higher level of

development

want to improve their housing as they go

they want they want access to services

health health clinics hospitals schools

churches

mosques all of the things that urban

dwellers assume

is there is available and should be

available to them

and mainly they want participation in

decision making

that is often what is not allocated to

them

it's always others who make decisions

for them but through organizing they've

learned how to make their voices heard

interesting that i think their own

strategy for getting out of poverty is

not so much themselves the adult

generation now

they are struggling to move up so

they're better off

make kai in a month they hope they don't

expect really to

become well-off uh unless they swear to

something they win the well

what we used to say the sweepstakes or

whatever lotto let's say

but the their focus is on their children

that their children should finish at

least high school and hopefully sana

college because when they say

parama catapults it's college and why is

that because when you have a college

degree they

know it gets you into the formal sector

will you have a salary a swell though

where you will have benefits uh and

where you will earn enough so that you

can actually put your younger

brothers and sisters to school and as

your parents age

you will be able to take care of them in

their old age right

and this is based on a very strong

spiritual and moral sense

there so let me get to the second point

that informal settlements really become

genuine communities over time

of people who care for one another

especially when there are crises

of course they say even before the

pandemic

you know they were always in a state of

crisis especially the bottom half among

the urban poor

but nonetheless and that generates

certain

feelings of helping one another it's

very characteristic in filipino culture

and you see it definitely in these urban

pro communities

what's so extraordinary although really

very ordinary and regular is that it's

women

who are the leaders in these communities

actually that is found

all over the world in urban poor

settlements other countries

and why is that because women are the

ones who are there all the time we've

asked them why is that

because we're here all the time we know

what the issues are

and because we get together once we

know how we can organize ourselves

better we know where we want to go we

know how to negotiate with the

authorities

women are good at that right uh and so

you have bonding networks

among the communities they know where

from whom they can borrow money if they

need it in the short term

whom they should lend a cup of rice to

because that person really needs it and

so on

community organizing has has enabled

them

to recognize or realize how

you can participate in decisions in

government you have to be

clear about your issues you have to

articulate them you have to have many

people who come

to government so that government is very

aware that

hey we better listen to them and you

provide solutions

usually government thinks it's out of

the question but over time with a lot of

pressure and you know women can be very

immaculate

and they're very successful at that they

often get what they need which is to

change the rules to be more responsive

to their particular situations

ngos who start with doing the organizing

begin to shift out as they become more

powerful form their own

people's organizations and and ngos then

take

other roles of connecting them with

let's say they need an architect to help

them improve

their housing they need an

engineer to tell them you know how best

to

develop a mangrove plantation in their

area

well all kinds of professionals that

ngos know

and can bring in who are concerned and

who want to help in some way

the caved 19 has really shown

very much the strengths of local

communities

who in the face of suddenly being locked

down

were were knew that they could not rely

immediately on government to respond

that quickly

and so they began to find ways of

dealing with it most of them

made contact with whether it's ngos the

church groups

uh even international donors that

they've connected with

to help them in the short term until

government resources came in

so you you saw that what was so

interesting in the organized communities

is the women leaders

since they know the communities they

knew who was getting

uh you know the the ayuda for example

who didn't deserve it they don't say

much about that but if somebody didn't

get it who deserved it

they would bring that up to the capitan

and say you know you're missing this

because because

so they know they monitored and they

made their voices heard as to a fair way

of distributing because for them that's

a very crucial element

fairness right they cared for

quarantined person who had to stay home

in these little shacks in many cases who

then had nothing to eat nobody was

earning

so they would organize to bring food for

them these are

there are innumerable kinds of examples

of this right

unfortunately the government currently

tends to look at these urban poor sites

as passaway they love that term pasaway

they have surveillance military and

police are around there all the time

because they're looking for possible

violence and sometimes it happens

but if you really know those communities

you know that they are really

striving and struggling just to make me

their ends meet especially in this time

difficulty and much more sharing because

it's necessary and they know people

so the third point i want to make is

that

we have to view informal settlers not as

traditionally looked upon as

problems in the city wow three and a

half million

problems no if you look at them from

their point of view and those of us who

know them

with great admiration they are the

solution

they solve many of their own problems

with very little government support over

the years until

maybe fairly recently all right and who

are the

who are the people who really support

the whole economy of the city from the

informal sector

if you look at the men they're mostly

jeepney drivers tricycle drivers

construction laborers

they are security guards waiters barbers

messengers street cleaners carpenters

plumbers welders and so on all

those if you need your cell phone fixed

you know where to go

that's you'll find them there so they

fix

a lot second-hand clothing is very much

a part of

how what they produce as for the women

we know they're sidewalk vendors they

run sorry sorry stores

they're domestic helpers they're

manicurists and beauticians

bar girls they manufacture small scale

masks and uniforms at home dress making

they have a sewing machine

they're waitresses street cleaners

that's who

helped the city survive and those of us

who are not in that sector

were are able to live our much more

affluent lives because they're there to

support us with those services

they are informal economy they are

usually independent self-employed very

small scale

very low capital operations right so

let's see

the characteristics of the informal

economy they are

they are largely unregulated

unregistered and kind of businesses

they're engaged in

therefore they're not protected legally

they're often accused of not paying

taxes

but in reality they say that is

absolutely not true

because the street vendor if she doesn't

give something to the policeman

whose control of the community is there

she is going to be evicted

maybe her her items confiscated uh

so that that ends her pleasant there so

she pays

informal taxes and of course they pay

the vat when they go to the grocery

store and so on

uh there another characteristic in

formal settlers the flexible hours

they can and this becomes very important

for women

because then they can do what they

consider their major role which is their

children their household to manage that

well

but at the same time earn somehow and

because of the flexible hours they can

work at home producing they say mass

uniforms and so on or go out in the

community and sell

when that was of course before the

pandemic but you know even if they're in

the formal employment and many of them

are there's

but as security guards as messengers

that are paid a salary but but their

contracts are very irregular we know the

endo is perhaps the best example

of that so it's really a quite an

insecure kind of employment

and of all this despite all the

production if you were to add

really in financial terms what they

contribute in services

is enormous but they are not included as

far as i know by economists

in the gross domestic product

calculations so it's like they don't

exist

but they're there and they support the

city

so let's be aware of that right

let me get to the fourth point that

societies are usually prepared to make

transformational changes in times of

crisis

people are more willing to take risks

because they've gone through

some kind of terrible trauma and that's

the situation we're in

so when we speak of the new normal we

need

structural changes right changes in

values attitudes

and let's look at for what as one sector

the urban poor themselves there are

economists who

who are in my view the more progressive

ones who talk about

a solidarity economy they say the market

is there

the market system uh is part of society

we're not

overthrowing the market the market is

there but we have to get away from the

focus that market means

only self-interest

only economic growth and profit

maximization

that cannot be the only way norms for

society it also has to prioritize people

it has to prioritize the environment

because

that is what we have to reserve for our

children and their children

so we need to focus on in inclusive and

sustainable development

and what does that mean poverty

reduction more attention to

health education housing for

especially for those who lack access to

it but those who are also

moving into hopefully a better situation

we have to reorient the national and

local budgets take another look

do we really need all those

infrastructure projects

for maine in metro manila maybe some of

it could be allocated

to decent housing for the huge numbers

of urban informal settlers

if we don't improve that housing for

sure we will

never solve the problem of pandemics in

the future when people are that crowded

that's when uh contamination happens and

you as you well know the virus doesn't

stop at the doors

of the high level enclaves

which may be guarded against people but

cannot guard against the virus

so it's in everyone's interest to

improve especially the housing

and food security situation of those who

don't have access to it at the moment

let me just mention something pope

francis said uh recently in a book he's

just published

solidarity is not the sharing of

crumbs from the table but to make a

place

at the table for everyone right

professor ron mendoza who of the ateneo

political sciences have made a very

strong pitch

that we have to address issues of the

elite domination

of the economy that is much more

of a shared economy that

one of the biggest problems is family

dynasties who have political

and economic control of family link

conglomerations

which are which because they have people

in congress

who sustain them mean means that they

can

begin to control inordinate proportions

of the resources

which don't really trickle down to the

rest of the society in significant

numbers

so we have to reduce these income

disparities right

uh and and one attack is this you know

elite domination

in particularly in those areas of um

that i've already mentioned uh you have

to support small and medium

enterprises we have learned that

actually in the last 20 to 30 years

that's really the basis of a dynamic

society where more people are involved

and that is competition so it's an

economy a market economy is a

competitive economy but the competition

should be among small and middle scale

producers

who are very effective because they are

very serious about improving their own

welfare we have to expand social

protection schemes especially for

children

we have the four piece keep that up

expand it

we need that's you know the cash

transfer system

the ayuda has to go more systematically

to everyone at the right time

phil health or social security all of

those measures social protection

let's expand them build up the

community's strengths and capacities

for their own problem solving we know

from

decades of work with urban poor that

they can do it

if they're supported rather than

repressed and forced off to

areas where they can't survive so

fifth point in the end

the urban poor have a right to the city

to a right to its resources and services

it's important understand they are

citizens of the republic

they are striving citizens who have

rights and who are

recognizing more and more that they have

the right to demand

those rights it's important for

especially now that local government is

getting more authority

and they're closer to people these are

their voters that they begin to

correspond or respond

to the needs of their communities has

enabled them to have a voice

in the planning and budgeting of of

those com of their own communities

recognize also that the wealthier groups

in our cities

are able to maintain their affluent

lifestyle and some of them have

really affluent lifestyles why because

the availability of huge numbers of

people

many in the informal sector who work for

them at

very low wages uh so that they can

pursue

the kinds of lifestyles that they have

my colleague sociologist jean carras

talks about the urban poor actually

subsidized the urban rich think about

that right

and finally now we're here we're a

catholic country we're just starting to

celebrate 500 years of christianity

wonderful but where are we look at us in

relation to other countries of southeast

asia

we are among the highest in terms of

income disparities

and and other kinds of measures which

should

show that vis-a-vis our

more marginalized groups we are failing

where they're succeeding or we're not

doing

as well and why is that supposedly if

you're a christian country you have

certain values

which respond to people and so let's re

remember that

and uh and the faith-based groups have a

lot to say

on that and as as we get to the end of

this

presentation uh the ateneo being a

jesuit

catholic institution i think it's

especially important to remember

our responsibilities as catholics in a

catholic country for the last 500 years

it's really remarkable that despite

our pride in what christianity has

brought

compare us with other southeast asian

countries we're not doing so well

income disparities in countries are here

in the philippines is one of the highest

in southeast asia unacceptable pope

francis

brings new voices into this what is what

does it mean

to be a catholic it means and and

let me say to our muslim brothers and

sisters that

their uh koran has many of these values

also entrenched

promote the dignity of every human being

through universal love

build a more just and caring society

in you know in every day people's

ordinary lives

everyday relationships in political

institutions

and in the economy recognize that we are

a single human family

in which we are brothers and sisters all

again let me remind you

that this pandemic trauma gives us an

extraordinary

opportunity to make a significant change

for filipinos to craft a new kind of

normal

that is caring that is socially just

that is firmly committed to human rights

for all

the time has come the time is now

and you you can make a difference

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you