Quick Facts
Individuals served in FY22: 950,870
- Through new construction – 840
- Through repairs – 150
- Through incremental building – 835
- Through market development – 949,045
Volunteers engaged in FY22: 912
Other facts:
- Population: Over 116.4 million
- Life expectancy: 72 years
- Unemployment rate: 4.8%
- Population living below poverty line: 13.2%
Source: World Factbook
Habitat for Humanity in the Philippines
Since Habitat for Humanity Philippines started operations in 1988, it has served more than 140,000 families with decent housing. With significant scaling up of its activities, Habitat Philippines is able to help an average of over 25,000 families annually since 2013. Habitat and its partners also provide families with improved access to clean water, sustainable energy, healthcare, education and livelihood. Working in a country that lies along the Pacific Typhoon Belt and the Pacific Ring of Fire, Habitat frequently responds to devastating natural disasters that hit the Philippines annually.
Housing needs in the Philippines
The lack of adequate housing can be seen as a glaring inequality in the Philippines. The massive housing backlog stands at 6.5 million units. If left unaddressed, the deficit could balloon to 22 million units by 2040, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. In the Metro Manila region, over 4 million Filipinos live in poor housing conditions, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and disasters. The Philippines experiences frequent seismic activity and about 20 tropical cyclones a year. Since 1988, Habitat Philippines and its multi-sectoral partners have worked with over 150,000 families to build or repair homes, improve access to basic social services, and build resilience and empowerment. Habitat has also partnered with over 800,000 families to improve their housing through financial services.
How Habitat addresses the need in the Philippines
Habitat Philippines is a key partner to government agencies, private corporations and other non-profit organizations in providing shelter solutions. Habitat takes on a holistic approach in the communities it creates. It takes the lead in providing livelihood training, strengthening the skills of the youth through the Habitat Young Leaders Build campaign and Leadership Academy training, and advocacy efforts centering on security of tenure issues and empowering communities to assert their right to adequate shelter.
Building safe, secure and resilient homes
As part of the flagship Negros Occidental Impact 2025 project, we build disaster-resilient homes with families in Negros Occidental province by leveraging on public-private-people partnerships and using the cement bamboo frame technology of Base Bahay Foundation with the support of the Hilti Foundation. Through urban renewal or in-city resettlement, Habitat works with local governments to address housing needs of informal settlement residents. In Valenzuela City, 334 low-income families will gain access to safe, decent, affordable homes and a sustainable community.
Empowering families, communities to RISE
Under the Resilient, Inclusive, Sustainable, Empowered, or RISE, Communities Program, families are empowered through forming a homeowners’ association. With Habitat’s support, the families build capacity and skills in financial literacy, livelihood, water, sanitation and hygiene and waste management. We also partner with Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, or BMZ, to provide free construction-related training to help individuals secure multiple national-level certifications and opening better job opportunities.
Boosting disaster preparedness, resilience, and recovery
With shelter as our core competency, Habitat helps rebuild homes and lives of disaster-affected families in the hardest hit communities. Through its Disaster Response Program, Habitat together with its donors and partners have supported 2,081 families affected by Typhoon Rai, one of the strongest storms in the world in 2021. The interventions range from distributing hygiene, sanitation, and household kits and shelter repair assistance to permanent housing solutions and construction and repair of community infrastructure. Habitat also helps improve the communities’ disaster preparedness by conducting community-based disaster risk reduction management training and build back safer orientation.
Inclusive housing markets through innovation
In Philippines, Habitat’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter partners with building materials companies to help families who build homes incrementally. The Terwilliger Center also engages in sector research such as a walling and foundation study and an analysis of the housing journey of low-income households in Cebu province. Through the Terwilliger Center’s media partnerships, households could learn about home improvement tips and practices via a program on an online news portal and a home makeover reality show.
