The Villar Empire: A Case Study on the Resettlement Experiences of Las Piñas City’s Coastal and Waterway Dwellers

Abstract

The Villar family play a pivotal role in driving the infrastructure development of Las Piñas City, spearheading crucial initiatives that enhance the city's connectivity, transportation systems, and overall urban growth. Part of these initiatives are clearing operations in partnership with the city’s Local Government Unit to protect citizens residing in coastal and waterway areas as well as to make way for developments such as the Las Piñas-Zapote River Drive. Employing a case study research design, this study identifies the issues faced by the resettlers, explores the impacts of resettlement on their lives, and explores their evaluation on the city's resettlement strategies. A thematic analysis was conducted from the data gathered through 19 individual, semi-structured interviews with resettled communities from Las Piñas City. The lens of social capital is also utilized to gain a holistic understanding of their resettlement experiences. Findings reveal inadequate funding for housing, resulting in homelessness, overcrowding, and substandard living conditions. Lack of proper infrastructure compounds the difficulties, while limited accessibility to essential facilities and financial burdens increase poverty and debt. Resettlement disrupts social and cultural fabric, livelihood opportunities, and the environment of coastal and waterway communities. The evaluation of coastal and waterway dwellers on the resettlement program highlights concerns about housing quality, affordability, facility accessibility, and limited government support. Interpreting results through the lens of Bourdieu’s social capital give credence to the discomfort that coastal and waterway dwellers initially experienced with the process of being resettled. Despite these issues, resettled communities maintain a positive outlook toward the city’s resettlement initiatives, provided that they finally had a home they could call their own. Several notable suggestions from the resettlers include involving communities in decision-making, providing affordable housing, and supporting intangible losses.