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Life in the slums
Millions of people in Manila do not live in flats, but in densely packed dwellings made of corrugated iron and scrap wood, often right next to rivers, railway tracks or on former rubbish tips. Life in the slums is characterised by makeshift solutions to things that are taken for granted elsewhere: clean water, electricity, and a roof that can withstand the next storm. Those visiting these neighbourhoods for the first time are usually surprised at how closely living spaces, workplaces and public spaces merge here, as there is simply no room for clear dividing lines. The following section looks at how these neighbourhoods came into being, the everyday problems faced by the people living there, and what approaches exist to improve the situation.
What do slums in Manila look like?
According to United Nations estimates, around a quarter of the world’s urban population lives in slum-like conditions, and this figure is rising. In Manila, this applies to a similarly high proportion of the metropolitan area’s approximately twelve million inhabitants, who are officially classified as ‘informal settlers’ – meaning they live on the land on which their dwellings stand without any secure legal claim to it. This legal uncertainty also means that families must expect to be evicted at any time, for example if a plot of land is needed for a new construction project.
Tondo and Baseco: the largest slums
The city’s best-known and largest slums are located in the district of Tondo, including the Baseco settlement right by the harbour. In this area alone, it is estimated that around 750,000 people live within an area of barely nine square kilometres, making Tondo one of the most densely populated informal settlements in the world. Around 150,000 people live in the so-called Baseco Compound itself, though only about 60,000 of them are officially registered as citizens. Many originally came to the city in search of work or were displaced by earlier construction projects elsewhere. Historically, the development of these settlements dates back to the early 20th century; since then, they have continued to grow steadily due to migration from the countryside and high birth rates.
What challenges do people face in their daily lives?
Daily life in the slums means one thing above all else: constant pressure to improvise when it comes to things that should really be considered basic necessities. Public water mains often only reach the edge of the settlements; the route from there to one’s own home must be organised privately.
Lack of access to water and sanitation facilities
Among the greatest day-to-day challenges are:
- Access to water via private hoses, for which residents have to pay the equivalent of several cents per metre
- A lack of permanent water connections, which is why some families buy drinking water by the litre from vendors
- Inadequate or non-existent sanitation facilities and sewage systems
- An irregular or informally tapped electricity supply, with the associated safety risks
These shortcomings have a direct impact on health: a UNICEF study found that mortality rates and school enrolment rates among the poorest urban children are in some cases worse than those of children in rural areas, even though cities are actually closer to hospitals, schools and public authorities. The expected locational advantages of city life therefore often do not reach the poorest. Furthermore, many dwellings are built so close together that diseases spread rapidly and fires can engulf entire streets in a very short space of time.
Earning a living under difficult conditions
Income in the slums is mostly earned informally, often through the collection and sorting of recyclable waste. Metro Manila produces several thousand tonnes of waste every day, and part of the population makes a living directly from sorting and reselling this waste – which, whilst securing an income, also entails considerable health risks. Other residents work as day labourers, at small street stalls or in basic service jobs, usually without permanent employment or social security. A fixed monthly wage is the exception for many families, meaning that daily life is often reorganised from day to day, depending on whatever income is available at the time.
What approaches are there to improve the situation?
Given the sheer scale of the challenge, both the city council and numerous aid organisations are relying on different, complementary approaches to improve living conditions, at least gradually.
Housing projects and long-term support
The most important measures include, amongst others:
- Construction of simple but sturdy housing units for families in particular need
- Improvements to the water infrastructure, so that fewer people have to rely on expensive private water hoses
- Education and health programmes delivered directly in the affected neighbourhoods
- Support with official registration to enable access to state benefits
In Baseco, for example, as part of a municipal housing project, several hundred small but sturdy homes were handed over to families in need, each with its own bedroom, kitchen and toilet. Such government projects are often complemented by the work of aid organisations that work directly with families on the ground, for example in providing healthcare for children or supporting their attendance at school. In practice, this combination of housing improvements and social support usually proves to be significantly more effective than purely infrastructural measures alone.
Although such projects remain only a small step given the sheer number of people affected, they do show that living conditions in the slum can indeed be improved through targeted, long-term efforts, even if there is still a long way to go before a genuine solution to the problem is found. Every single improvement – be it a permanent water connection or safe accommodation – makes a tangible, concrete difference to the everyday lives of the families concerned.