The Philippines’ housing programs and policies have undergone significant evolution across historical periods, from Spanish colonization to the Duterte administration. Despite these numerous initiatives, millions of poor Filipinos remain trapped in substandard living conditions, either excluded from or inadequately served by state housing interventions. This briefer traces the trajectory of Philippine housing programs and policies, situating them within the broader political and economic contexts of distinct historical periods in the country. Drawing on secondary sources and archival materials, it interrogates how colonial and neo-colonial rule, alongside the Philippines’ integration into the global capitalist system, shaped housing strategies and urban development frameworks. This briefer hopes to provide critical insights for urban poor activists and housing rights advocates, underscoring the urgent need to dismantle entrenched power structures that obstruct genuine housing reforms.
Written by Rafael Vicente V. Dimalanta and Jose Ibarra C. Cunanan