Learning from Urban Transitional Settlement Response in the Philippines: Housing, Land and Property Issues

This publication documents Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) experience in implementing an urban transitional settlement program in response to the destruction caused by Tropical Storm “Washi” in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. It offers reflections and a monologue of questions to ask oneselfwhen faced with similar urban disasters to improve future transitional settlement and land programs, especially for those who do not have access to their own land. It is a result of CRS’ first-hand experience, site visits, studies of internal and external documentation, and interviews with shelter recipients, government officials and community members during the 2011–2012 response.