Research period: 2014 – 2018
Location: Informal settlement in the Baseco Compound (Barangay 649), City of Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines, 14˚ 35′ 36′′ N 120˚ 57′ 31′′ E
Design Team: Kabalikat sa Pagpapuanlad ng Baseco (Baseco People’s Association); Kabalikat – Joergie Tenolete, Nela Mendes, Leonardo Yuson, Annabel Sungahid, Mayeta Befasolo; Mercy Relief (MR) – Laarni Salangga, Carol Liew; Urban Poor Associates (UPA) – Alice Murphy, Ivy Shella Espineli-Pagute, Arwin Atentar
Research: National University of Singapore (NUS) – Yun Hye Hwang, Yuanqiu Feng, Master of Landscape Architecture students (class of 2015); Ateneo de Manila University – Severino G. Salmo, Eunice Lois de Quiros Gianan
The project describes a mangrove planting project in Baseco, a landfill site densely occupied by informal settlers in the City of Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. It was designed and constructed by members of the Kabalikat, a voluntary community organization formed to advance the interests of the large population (20,000 families in 2016 estimates) of informal settlers living in Baseco. In response to urgent issues of disaster risk reduction and neighbourhood landscape improvement, NGOs Mercy Relief and Urban Poor Associates together with the Kabalikat sought expert advice, and gathered financial and manpower resources to create a stand of mangroves along the coastline of Baseco. The success of this community driven project has since attracted government agencies (Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission) and political parties (Senator Cynthia Villar) to replicate the idea further along the coastlines.
The research team from the National University of Singapore’s Master of Landscape Architecture programme have been involved with documenting and consulting on the mangrove project since 2014. The following research and consultation activities have been completed so far to help understand the challenges and impacts of this community-driven landscape project; a) Coastal line change analysis through historical maps (1950,1980) and satellite imagery of 2001, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2016; b) Photo analysis of mangrove growth rate in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018; c) Volunteer work to plant 120 mangrove trees in 2014; d) Design and consultation in 2014; e) Interviews with participated NGOs, Kabalikat, and academic experts in 2014, 2016, 2018; f) Coastal residents interviews March-April 2018; g) Water quality analysis and rapid biodiversity survey in July 2018 (completed by partner researchers in Ateneo de Manila).
The main project stakeholders are Baseco residents, particularly those who live near the coastlines. They are represented by the Kabalikat (Baseco people’s association). Other stakeholders include NGOs who have been are involved in the settlement for several years and initiated the project (Mercy Relief and Urban Poor Associates) as well as local government officials (barangay office).
Members of the leading design team include the local NGO Urban Poor Associates, the Singapore-based NGO Mercy Relief and the Kabalikat. Researchers from the National University of Singapore and Ateneo de Manila University also assisted as consultants on the project.
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