People-Centered Approach: A Case Study on the Impact of the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) in the Community Development and Planning in Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Munting Nayon Inc., Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City

Abstract

On the issue of land rights and tenureship, the urban poor communities, being one of the vulnerable sectors of our society, are put at a disadvantage. Thus, solutions and interventions must be made to bridge the gap between the land and the poor in the attempts to uplift their living conditions in our society. The Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) came into being as a pro-poor, gender responsive, and participatory land information system. Being a qualitative study utilizing purposive sampling technique, this case study aims to investigate the impact of the STDM, as a relatively new tool, in the community development and planning in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City, specifically in Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Munting Nayon Inc. It focuses on the experience of the community on the implementation of STDM, the effectiveness of STDM as a pro-poor, gender responsive, and participatory land information system, and the influence of STDM on the community development and planning of Muntinlupa City. The data was coded using NVivo 12, and the findings were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the study point out to (1) the gap between the poor and the land in achieving land tenureship, (2) Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Munting Nayon Inc.’s important role in the community, (3) the importance of government and NGO support for the urban poor communities, (4) STDM emerged as a mapping tool where data comes from the people, (5) STDM being a free tool that identifies urban poor communities which enables support to reach them, (6) STDM identifying male and female residents, (7) STDM encouraging people’s participation, (8) STDM as a factor in acquiring land tenureship, (9) STDM as a database, and (10) STDM as a partnership between the poor, the government, and the NGOs. The study is beneficial for the urban poor sector, the local government units, the academe, professionals, and policymakers, and the future researchers who all work together to uplift the living conditions of the urban poor.