CHAPTER XXIII
Government Housing. Satellite Communities.
As a amelioratory move to solve the housing problem of the low income group,
the government instituted in 1947 the people’s Homesite and Housing Corporation. This
body is an offshoot of the earlier organized housing bodies of the government, namely,
the people’s Homesite Corporation and the National Housing Commision. The former
was started in 1938 and had built tenement houses in Tondo and Quezon City (Barrio
Obrero); the latter’s activities were stifled by the World War. Both, however, have been
rejuvenated and merge in one body, the PHHC.
The PHHC has planned housing projects, generally, in the form of self-contained
communities. These communities will have, among other units, an elementary school, a
market and a row of shops, including even a library. The Roxas District, in Quezon City,
is the first project constructed in the implemented of the plan, Others are Projects 3 and
4 and some others. These projects occupy areas of thirty-three hectares and ninety-two
and one half hectares, respectively. The planning of these housing units adheres to the
principle of ample accommodation for comfortable indoor living with sufficient outdoor
space.” The elementary school is erected in a small square accessible from the different
group of houses. Likewise, transportation facilities are made accessible on main
thoroughfares within the projects which connect to the national roads or main bus lines.
A number of the housing units are of a twin or duplex type; they are identified with the
letter T, e.g., 40-T; or the single type know with the letter S, as 35-S. These type of
houses, however, have been designed for employees belonging to the income bracket
of one hundred and fifty pesos and three hundred or three hundred and fifty pesos per
month.
● Information furnished by architect Enrique J. L. Ruiz, member. Board of
Directors, PHHC.
126
, MODERN PERIOD-ARCHITECTURE
With regards to their architecture, there is a uniformity of design. This way,
economy in the cost of construction is partially achieved. Nonetheless, the houses are a
better sight than the aging and jam-packed “accesorias.” At least the problem of
ill-ventilation, poor illumination and dearth of breathing space is solved.
Another type of housing for the low-income families is so called Walk-up
Apartments. First built in Sta. Ana, these three story structures may be yet the partial
answer to the problem of congestion in semi-tenement in districts. Although water
storage has been felt acutely in these apartments during the months of February, June
and August, yet this particular project has relieved crowded districts from the oppressive
heat and humidity of Manila.
The “Philamlife Homes.” On the one hand, aims to meet the housing needs of a
higher income group in Manila---- those that receive about six hundred pesos monthly.
This project occupies a fourty-five hectare area about half a kilometer north of the
intersection of high way 54 ( E. de los santos avenue) and Quezon Boulevard Extension
in Quezon City. This is the third community development projects of the Philippine
American Life inssurance Company, the first and second of which were of which were
Constructed in Iloilo City and Baguio City, respectively.
Acctually the Philamlife Homes is located on an areas between the sidewalk a
square and one of its diagonals ( West avenue, and E. de los santos avenue). In the
center of the compound is a space for the Community Center, Shopping Center, the
Church and a park. A school is located on the southern fringe of the area. Concrete and
sphalt the roads and Walkways are woven around the center. There are exit roads in
West Avenue and Highway 54.
Each of the houses stands on the four hundred square meter lot with the floor space of
about ninety square meter. Almost all of them, too, have a car ports which most of the
time are turned into play spaces for a children.
Architecturally, these houses are better designed than the government housing projects.
Although they are of the bungalow type, they come in varieties of form of design. Efforts
have been exerted to effect a harmonious relationship of indoor and outdoor space; this
is not achieved fully, though, because of the closeness of one house to the other. There
is, However, enough free space between units to insure healthful and comfortable living.
127
Government Housing. Satellite Communities.
As a amelioratory move to solve the housing problem of the low income group,
the government instituted in 1947 the people’s Homesite and Housing Corporation. This
body is an offshoot of the earlier organized housing bodies of the government, namely,
the people’s Homesite Corporation and the National Housing Commision. The former
was started in 1938 and had built tenement houses in Tondo and Quezon City (Barrio
Obrero); the latter’s activities were stifled by the World War. Both, however, have been
rejuvenated and merge in one body, the PHHC.
The PHHC has planned housing projects, generally, in the form of self-contained
communities. These communities will have, among other units, an elementary school, a
market and a row of shops, including even a library. The Roxas District, in Quezon City,
is the first project constructed in the implemented of the plan, Others are Projects 3 and
4 and some others. These projects occupy areas of thirty-three hectares and ninety-two
and one half hectares, respectively. The planning of these housing units adheres to the
principle of ample accommodation for comfortable indoor living with sufficient outdoor
space.” The elementary school is erected in a small square accessible from the different
group of houses. Likewise, transportation facilities are made accessible on main
thoroughfares within the projects which connect to the national roads or main bus lines.
A number of the housing units are of a twin or duplex type; they are identified with the
letter T, e.g., 40-T; or the single type know with the letter S, as 35-S. These type of
houses, however, have been designed for employees belonging to the income bracket
of one hundred and fifty pesos and three hundred or three hundred and fifty pesos per
month.
● Information furnished by architect Enrique J. L. Ruiz, member. Board of
Directors, PHHC.
126
, MODERN PERIOD-ARCHITECTURE
With regards to their architecture, there is a uniformity of design. This way,
economy in the cost of construction is partially achieved. Nonetheless, the houses are a
better sight than the aging and jam-packed “accesorias.” At least the problem of
ill-ventilation, poor illumination and dearth of breathing space is solved.
Another type of housing for the low-income families is so called Walk-up
Apartments. First built in Sta. Ana, these three story structures may be yet the partial
answer to the problem of congestion in semi-tenement in districts. Although water
storage has been felt acutely in these apartments during the months of February, June
and August, yet this particular project has relieved crowded districts from the oppressive
heat and humidity of Manila.
The “Philamlife Homes.” On the one hand, aims to meet the housing needs of a
higher income group in Manila---- those that receive about six hundred pesos monthly.
This project occupies a fourty-five hectare area about half a kilometer north of the
intersection of high way 54 ( E. de los santos avenue) and Quezon Boulevard Extension
in Quezon City. This is the third community development projects of the Philippine
American Life inssurance Company, the first and second of which were of which were
Constructed in Iloilo City and Baguio City, respectively.
Acctually the Philamlife Homes is located on an areas between the sidewalk a
square and one of its diagonals ( West avenue, and E. de los santos avenue). In the
center of the compound is a space for the Community Center, Shopping Center, the
Church and a park. A school is located on the southern fringe of the area. Concrete and
sphalt the roads and Walkways are woven around the center. There are exit roads in
West Avenue and Highway 54.
Each of the houses stands on the four hundred square meter lot with the floor space of
about ninety square meter. Almost all of them, too, have a car ports which most of the
time are turned into play spaces for a children.
Architecturally, these houses are better designed than the government housing projects.
Although they are of the bungalow type, they come in varieties of form of design. Efforts
have been exerted to effect a harmonious relationship of indoor and outdoor space; this
is not achieved fully, though, because of the closeness of one house to the other. There
is, However, enough free space between units to insure healthful and comfortable living.
127
