BORDA SEA News
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Miraculous Hills expects to have better living environment soon
Written by:
Jennibelle Lyka C. Kesip
Christine Limbog
BNS Philippines
Pro-poor Eco-Settlement Demonstration Project in San Isidro “Miraculous Hills” Philippines
Currently metro manila is the most populous of the twelve defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines. As of 2007 census, it had a population of more than 11million, comprising 13% of the national population. By 2030, a majority will live in the cities; this trend represents a tremendous challenge in delivering cost effective and affordable services to an increasing population. As of 2010 the estimate of the percentage of population falling below the poverty line is 32.9% and 35% reside in informal slum settlements suffer from inadequate access to basic needs which includes Payatas residents. The majority of the Payatas residents have income below the official poverty threshold, living near the open dumpsite waste picking has become a major source of income of so many, and the source of respiratory diseases.
Jennibelle Lyka C. Kesip
Christine Limbog
BNS Philippines
Pro-poor Eco-Settlement Demonstration Project in San Isidro “Miraculous Hills” PhilippinesCurrently metro manila is the most populous of the twelve defined metropolitan areas in the Philippines. As of 2007 census, it had a population of more than 11million, comprising 13% of the national population. By 2030, a majority will live in the cities; this trend represents a tremendous challenge in delivering cost effective and affordable services to an increasing population. As of 2010 the estimate of the percentage of population falling below the poverty line is 32.9% and 35% reside in informal slum settlements suffer from inadequate access to basic needs which includes Payatas residents. The majority of the Payatas residents have income below the official poverty threshold, living near the open dumpsite waste picking has become a major source of income of so many, and the source of respiratory diseases.
Basic Needs Services Philippines (BNS-Phils.) in cooperation with Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) conducted a research and development study to transform a selected urban poor community, which is the Payatas Scavengers Homeowners association (PSHAI) into a sustainable and viable community with greatly improved quality of life. In close link with national and regional networks a driving resettlement process in Miraculous hills Montalban Rizal brought the PSHAI to bought the land and its member who are willing to move out of the informal Payatas settlement, but are facing challenges and barriers. The study started on May 2010 and will end on August 2010. BNS –Phils. deals with the water and Sanitation committee which includes the water testing of the groundwater source, possibility of putting up Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS), rainwater harvesting and involved in some livelihood options. Meetings and dialogues were regularly done in the area for updating and for the community to be involved in the study. 
At present around 56 families already settled in miraculous hills and looking forward for the better place to live. With the results of the study being conducted, Water is not suitable for drinking and DEWATS is only feasible in some areas which not include all the expected population, with that the community faces new challenges. Implementation of the different outputs is also one of the things that being considered due to financial capabilities and issues and need to be address by the community.