Sustainable housing in Cebu City | Philippines | FES Asia

FES Global

30 Oct 202006:54

Summary

TLDRMetro Cebu faces urbanization pressures with a growing population nearing two million, highlighting the need for sustainable housing and services. The city's response includes a shelter framework plan for affordable, safe housing, especially for vulnerable groups. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of densely packed communities, prompting urgent action for sustainable urban development. Cebu City's initiatives, such as the first lead rise socialized housing project, aim to create a sustainable city for future generations, supported by international programs recognizing its potential.

Takeaways

🌆 Metro Cebu is the second busiest metropolitan area in the Philippines, attracting people from the southern parts of the country and facing pressures on basic services like housing due to its growing population nearing two million.
🏢 The economic center of Cebu City is envisioned to be a leader in inclusive and sustainable urban development, focusing on people's resiliency and shared vision for urban renewal.
🏠 The city faces challenges in providing decent yet affordable housing, efficient transportation, and public utilities to its residents, especially during a health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
🤝 Cebu City's active housing board, with representations from civil society, has been instrumental in passing the City Shelter Framework Plan, aiming to provide affordable, safe, and livable housing options for its residents.
🛑 The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of the urban poor, particularly those living in densely packed communities where social distancing is nearly impossible.
🏘️ Barangay Mambalin, with a high concentration of urban poor, experienced the highest number of COVID-19 cases in May 2020, underscoring the need for better urban design in socialized housing programs.
🚧 The city's existing housing programs have constraints, with relocation sites often being located on disaster-prone lands and lacking basic service facilities, contributing to the spread of diseases.
🏗️ There is an urgent need for the city to rebuild and reimagine its urban design, reassessing land use and zoning policies to incorporate disaster reduction and mitigation frameworks in response to climate change.
🏡 Sustainable housing is identified as a crucial component for holistic and sustainable development, with the city implementing a shelter framework that addresses housing adequacy, affordability, and sustainability.
🌱 Cebu City has taken steps towards sustainability by sponsoring a resolution declaring a state of climate emergency and committing to a city-wide just transition to reverse global warming.
🏙️ The city's efforts in sustainable housing and urban development have been recognized through initiatives like the Indido Eco Cities Initiative and the UK's Global Future Cities Program, positioning Cebu as a potential leader in sustainable communities.

Q & A

What is the current status of Metro Cebu in terms of population and economic activity?
-Metro Cebu is the second busiest metropolitan area in the Philippines, next to the National Capital Region, with a population nearing two million. It serves as an economic center attracting people from the southern parts of the country.
What challenges does Metro Cebu face due to urbanization?
-Metro Cebu faces pressures on basic services, especially housing, as the ballooning population leads to increased demand for affordable and safe living spaces.
How does the speaker envision Cebu City's role in sustainable urban development?
-The speaker sees Cebu City as a leader in inclusive and sustainable urban development, emphasizing the importance of people's resiliency and a shared vision for urban renewal.
What are the key components of sustainable growth mentioned in the script?
-The key components of sustainable growth mentioned include mortgage and rent affordability, green transportation, public utilities and services, and open and safe spaces.
How did the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the vulnerabilities of the urban poor in Metro Cebu?
-The pandemic revealed that the poor and working class, who are the most vulnerable, struggle to sustain themselves and are often unable to afford basic necessities during health crises.
What measures did Cebu City take in response to the housing crisis and the impact of Typhoon in 2010?
-Cebu City embarked on sustainable housing initiatives, establishing an active housing board with representations from civil society and passing the City Shelter Framework Plan to provide affordable, safe, and livable housing.
What is the City Shelter Framework Plan, and what does it mandate?
-The City Shelter Framework Plan is a law that mandates the city government to provide options for affordable, safe, and livable housing for residents, especially vulnerable informal settlers.
How does the script describe the living conditions of informal homes in urban areas?
-Informal homes in urban areas have an average occupancy of five people every six square meters, leading to poor living conditions that worsen the risk of spreading diseases like COVID-19.
What were the issues identified in the socialized housing program of Cebu City?
-The issues identified include small housing units with several households, lack of open spaces, no access to water, and relocation sites that are not 100 percent habitable and prone to landslides.
What actions did the Cebu City Council take in response to the climate emergency declared in October 2019?
-The Cebu City Council committed to a city-wide just transition in reversing global warming and reassessing land use and zoning policies to incorporate disaster reduction and mitigation frameworks.
How does the speaker describe the vision for a sustainable city in Cebu?
-The speaker envisions a sustainable city in Cebu that invests in its constituents, helps them afford the basics to survive the new normal, and is supported by an enabling local government.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Metro Cebu's Urban Challenges and Sustainable Development

Metro Cebu, the second busiest metropolitan area in the Philippines, faces significant urbanization pressures due to its economic draw, leading to a ballooning population nearing two million. The city is striving to become a leader in inclusive and sustainable urban development, focusing on affordable housing, efficient transportation, and public utilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of the poor and working class, emphasizing the need for sustainable growth that is affordable for all. The city has an active housing board and has passed a city shelter framework plan, aiming to provide safe and affordable housing, especially for vulnerable informal settlers. However, the city's housing programs face constraints, and relocation sites provided are not fully habitable, often located in disaster-prone areas. The city is urged to reassess its land use and zoning policies to incorporate disaster reduction and mitigation frameworks to combat climate change, making sustainable housing a crucial component of holistic sustainable development.

05:01

🌿 Sustainable Housing as a Key to Climate Action in Cebu City

Sustainable housing is identified as a key element in Cebu City's efforts to combat climate change and reverse global warming. The city has been working towards a sustainable housing system, with initiatives such as the first LeadRise socialized housing project, which includes a healthcare center, skills training center, and daycare center, designed to accommodate 170 urban poor families. Cebu City's participation in the INDIgo Eco-Cities Initiative and the UK's Global Future Cities Program highlights its potential to lead the way to sustainable communities. The city's vision for a sustainable city agenda is seen as a way to invest in constituents and help them afford the basics to survive the new normal. The support of an enabling local government is crucial in making Cebu a sustainable city, which is considered the greatest legacy that can be given to Cebu and its future generations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Metro Cebu

Metro Cebu refers to the second busiest metropolitan area in the Philippines, following the National Capital Region. It is an economic hub attracting people from the southern parts of the country, leading to a rapidly growing population nearing two million. The term is central to the video's theme of urban development and the challenges it faces, such as housing and basic services.

💡Urbanization

Urbanization is the process of migration from rural to urban areas, leading to the growth of cities. In the context of the video, it is associated with the pressures on basic services like housing, transportation, and healthcare in Metro Cebu, highlighting the need for sustainable urban planning.

💡Sustainable Urban Development

Sustainable Urban Development is the concept of creating cities that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. The video emphasizes this as a key vision for Cebu City, focusing on inclusive growth and the resilience of its people, which is crucial for addressing the challenges posed by urbanization.

💡Resiliency

Resiliency in the script refers to the ability of a city's people to adapt to and recover from difficulties, such as natural disasters or health crises. It is a core component of sustainable urban development, as it ensures the city's capacity to endure and overcome challenges.

💡Housing

Housing is a fundamental service mentioned in the script as a significant challenge in Metro Cebu. The video discusses the need for affordable, safe, and livable housing, especially for vulnerable populations, and the role of the city government in providing such options.

💡Health Crisis

The term 'health crisis' is used in the script to describe situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed the vulnerabilities of urban areas, particularly in providing for the poor and working class. It underscores the importance of sustainable urban planning in ensuring the well-being of residents during such crises.

💡Sustainable Growth

Sustainable Growth is the idea of economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video uses this concept to discuss the importance of affordable housing, efficient transportation, and access to basic services for all residents.

💡Climate Change

Climate Change is a significant theme in the video, referring to the long-term shifts in weather patterns and global temperature. It is connected to the urban housing situation in Metro Cebu, emphasizing the need for disaster reduction and mitigation in housing policies to combat the effects of climate change.

💡Shelter Framework

The Shelter Framework mentioned in the script is a legal mandate for city governments to provide affordable, safe, and livable housing options. It is a critical policy instrument in addressing housing inadequacies and promoting sustainable urban development in Cebu City.

💡Socialized Housing

Socialized Housing refers to government-subsidized housing provided for low-income and vulnerable populations. The video discusses the challenges of this program, such as poor living conditions and lack of basic facilities, which exacerbate the risk of disease spread and the impact of climate change.

💡Eco-Cities Initiative

The Eco-Cities Initiative is a global program that supports the development of sustainable urban communities. Cebu City's participation in this initiative and the UK's Global Future Cities Program indicates its commitment to leading the way in sustainable development, as recognized by international bodies.

Highlights

Metro Cebu is the second busiest metropolitan area in the Philippines.

The population of Metro Cebu is nearing two million.

Urbanization in Metro Cebu is putting pressure on basic services, particularly housing.

Cebu City is envisioned as a leader in inclusive and sustainable urban development.

Sustainable growth is anchored on people's resiliency and shared vision for urban renewal.

Mortgage, rent, green transportation, public utilities, and services are concerns for sustainability.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability of the poor and working class in sustaining themselves.

Cebu City has an active housing board with dynamic representations from civil society.

Cebu City passed the City Shelter Framework Plan, mandating affordable, safe, and livable housing.

The law aims to relocate families living in creeks and river banks to safe housing sites.

Informal homes in urban areas have an average occupancy of five people every six square meters.

Densely packed communities worsen the risk of spreading COVID-19 due to the impossibility of social distancing.

The city's socialized housing program has problems with small housing units and lack of open spaces.

Relocation sites provided by the city are not 100 percent habitable and are prone to landslides.

The city must rebuild around its existing urban design and re-imagine its course of development.

Sustainable housing is a crucial component of holistic and sustainable development.

Cebu City Council declared a state of climate emergency in response to environmental disasters.

Cebu City was part of the Indido Eco-Cities Initiative and awarded a grant under the UK's Global Future Cities Program.

Investing in constituents and supporting them to afford the basics is key to making Cebu a sustainable city.

A sustainable city is the only future worth working for Cebu and its future generations.