Santos, Martin, Gabriel Homeowners Association, Inc. (SAMAGA HOA) livelihood assistance project

• Main Author: Omaña, Terteen Gail B.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Community development—Philippines—Malabon; Community development—Philippines—Malabon—Finance; Development Studies
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/9419
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Philippine Business for Social Progress-Luzon Regional Operation is currently implementing the Strategic Private Sector Partnerships for Urban Poverty Reduction Program or STEP-UP, which is an expansion of the National Capital Region (NCR) Area Resource Management Program. The STEP-UP aims to improve the lives of 6,785 urban poor households from 26 selected communities in eight cities in Metro Manila. One of its components is the provision of loan assistance for livelihood enterprise development. The loan assistance strives to augment the income of selected beneficiaries enabling them to pay their land amortization as well as address other basic needs. The Santos, Martin and Gabriel Homeowners' Association or SAMAGA HOA is one of the six selected STEP-UP communities in the City of Malabon. The community is located in Dulong Herrera St., Barangay lbaba, which can be reached by pedicab in 5 minutes from Malabon City Hall. It is an on-site development that covers a total land area of 11,595 square meters, with approximately 36 square meters awarded to each of the 284 households in 1994 with a monthly amortization of P179.10 payable in 25 years. A monthly organizational due of P20.00 is collected to sustain all organization-related efforts. SAMAGA HOA was organized in 1974, registered with SEC in 1980 and with Home Insurance Guarantee Corporation (HIGC) in 1985 and with HLURB in 1995. HIGC served as its originator under the Community Home Mortgage Program (CMP). Land was awarded to the community in 1994. Based on the results of the Minimum Basic Needs Survey conducted about 32.86% of the total number of units belonging to the Association is made of light/makeshift/salvaged materials. The Survey also revealed that the mean household income for the community is P15,412. Considering the Metro Manila poverty line of P18,000 the average household in the community is located below this level, therefore they are still living under the poverty threshold. Using the basic salary as basis, 94% of the community falls below the poverty threshold. Twenty­eight percent (28%) of the available manpower in the community is unemployed. Most of those employed include factory workers, employees, domestic helpers, beauticians, security guards, professionals and seamen. Secondary sources of income include pedicab/tricycle driving, sari-sari stores, vending and working in contractual jobs (i.e., carpentry, masonry). With limited resources at their disposal, the need for financial assistance through provision of livelihood loan assistance to augment family income and improve living conditions of the members of the Association is very pronounced.