Construction Systems for Extensions and Renovations in a Resettlement Site in the Philippines

In Manila, the Philippines, resettlement projects have been implemented to relocate informal settler families from slums and disaster-prone metro areas. At resettlement sites, housing units are often provided to beneficiaries, who then extend and renovate them. Such extensions and renovations of housing, and the processes involved, are considered to have a significant impact on living environments and local communities; however, these impacts are not yet fully understood. Thus, this paper investigates the following elements at St. Martha Estate, one of the resettlement sites: A) the condition of housing that has undergone extension and renovation, B) the construction systems used for these extensions and renovations, and C) the attributes of the residents. Subsequently, correlations among A, B, and C were analyzed to gain knowledge that can improve the living environment. First, we examined A by conducting a photographic survey of the houses′ exteriors and interiors. Then, B and C were examined through interviews with the residents. Through analysis of correlations between A, B, and C, it was found that the characteristics of the builders of the extensions and renovations were related to the construction skill and the economic conditions of the residents, which in turn affected the condition of the extensions.