Technical Assistance Movement for People and Environment, Inc.
The Pitch
Technical Assistance Movement for People and Environment Inc. (TAMPEI) conducted a community mapping program with residents of Muntinlupa’s informal settlements to help them identify and act on issues, build leadership and communicate with the government.
The Problem
The needs of residents of informal settlements and urban poor communities are often neglected and left unmet by governments. This was especially true in Muntinlupa, where communities did not have an effective way to identify issues and mobilize to address them.
The Process
- Conducted community mapping exercises in bangarays across the city to help residents visually articulate which issues were of concern and where
- Identified and trained 40 community leaders from each mapped area, mostly women, to form eight Technical Working Groups
- Built concrete sidewalks, runoff drains, streetlights and urban farms
- Added waste management infrastructure
- Addressed utility and transport needs
The Impact
- Formed a direct link between communities, councils and the City Urban Poor Affairs Office via creation of Technical Working Groups, enabling them to participate in decision-making processes as members of the City Local Housing Board
- Supported Technical Working Groups to develop community-based project proposals that became part of the City’s Annual Investment Plan for 2020: Two capacity-development trainings and five small upgrading projects were approved for implementation
- Increased social cohesion between informal settlements and the rest of Muntinpula
- Deepened residents’ sense of socio-political empowerment and understanding of community issues
- Empowered participating women to feel more confident leading other community members and to interact with local authorities to advocate for their needs
- Improved living conditions and household stability in informal settlements across the city
- Encouraged residents of informal settlements to hold clean-up days
- Connected residents with financing programs that enable them to purchase land and construct housing units
