A study on housing modifications in resettlement sites in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

Abstract

This study explores the reasons for, and patterns of, housing modifications in Mahogany Village at the Calaanan site, where permanent houses were built as part of a program to resettle communities affected by the severe tropical storm Washi that hit Cagayan de Oro City in December 2011. The basic housing units provided were not intended to be modified and the possibilities for adaptations were limited. However, this research found that residents were willing to invest in the construction of complementary spaces, even though it was considered a violation of their occupancy agreement. The construction of modifications was driven by the low performance of the houses provided, while the need to modify them came about because householders' needs, activities, and goals were not properly satisfied. In this study, the identification of the patterns of modification is augmented by an analysis of the reasons behind these modifications, incorporating consideration of demographic, economic, sociocultural, local environment, and climatic conditions. The study's findings reveal that the local characteristics of the resettled communities and their physical context were not taken into account during the planning stage of the resettlement.