Access to optimal housing: how the the people of Rosario can lead more prosperous lives and improve their overall well-being

Vision | Success Indicator 08 of 25 | Updated March 05, 2023 1230H PhST

THE MUNICIPALITY OF ROSARIO BATANGAS has a vision statement with both "outward-looking" and "inward-looking" components, ten vision elements, and 25 success indicators. However, the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2016-2-2030, Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) 2016-2025, and Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) of 2020-2022 and 2022-2025 iterations do not provide clear descriptions of these elements. Therefore, we will present our interpretation of these vision elements in a series of posts, using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, and CALABARZON Regional Development Plan (RDP): 2017-2022 Midterm Update as a guide. Our goal is to show how achieving these vision elements can improve the lives of the people of Rosario and lead to prosperity. This is the eighth post of a 25-part series.

DID YOU KNOW THAT ACCESS TO OPTIMAL HOUSING is a key success indicator for the vision statement of Rosario, Batangas? By achieving this goal, the people of Rosario can lead more prosperous lives and improve their overall well-being.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, and CALABARZON Regional Development Plan (RDP): 2017-2022 Midterm Update serve as guides to help achieve this goal. By ensuring access to optimal housing, Rosario can fulfill several of these goals, including goal number 1: No Poverty, goal number 3: Good Health and Well-being, goal number 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, goal number 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and goal number 13: Climate Action.

The current Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2016-2030 assessed that the residential areas generally provide an acceptable and habitable environment, with individual owners responsible for maintaining cleanliness and sanitation. The local government also supplements these efforts. Garbage disposal is mainly done through recycling and composting by households, although some still resort to burning, despite its prohibition. 

While services and utilities such as water, power, and road networks are provided, coverage is less than 100%, especially in remote residential areas. In these areas, residents still rely on rivers and creeks for water, use kerosene and oil for lighting, and travel on foot or horseback to access transportation to nearby barangays.

However, the municipal government has prioritized addressing these concerns, as evidenced by their inclusion in the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and Annual Investment Program (AIP). They are continuously working towards improving the conditions in these remote residential areas.

Structural qualities of residential houses are generally of acceptable quality.  Housing units made of concrete, semi-concrete to wood construction materials constitute up to 72% of the total occupied housing units.  Units made of mixed and light construction materials comprise the remaining portion.

Population growth and backlog may necessitate a total of 18,185 additional housing units, with the number of new units increasing steadily up to 2030.

A projected increase in residential land requirements of 729.45 hectares is expected by 2030. As a result, the proposed total residential area would be 1,644.10 hectares, up from the current 914.66 hectares. While the residential density is set to rise slightly from 128 persons per hectare to 130 persons per hectare, the municipality would still be classified as LOW-DENSITY/INTENSITY for residential purposes.

When people have access to optimal housing, they are more likely to be healthy and have better overall well-being. They can also access clean water and sanitation, which is essential for staying healthy. Additionally, by building sustainable cities and communities, Rosario can improve the quality of life for its residents and attract more economic opportunities.

WE BELIEVE that access to optimal housing is a crucial element of Rosario's vision statement, and achieving this goal can significantly improve the lives of its residents. By following the SDGs, PDP, and RDP, Rosario can create a better future for its people and continue to prosper.