Development detour a study on the effects of the construction of the southeast Metro Manila Expressway (C6) to the affected communities around Taytay-Taguig areas

Abstract

Infrastructure development is seen by many as an important aspect of the overall development of our modern societies. More often than not, it is deemed or thought of as the requisites for communities to prosper. Yet, the perspective of the effects of infrastructure has always been narrowed down to what economic benefits will be gained from such. As a result, other aspects that contribute to the quality of life of mankind, such as social, political, and environmental aspects, are undermined. The Philippines' case is no different. With looming issues regarding heavy traffic as causes of economic loss, the government has seen road constructions as their solutions which they see not only as solution to the issues of congestion, but also as stimuli for economic growth, and as mentioned, detriments to other aspects of living come with it. With its strategic location and proximity to other growth areas around the capital, the Taytay-Taguig area was seen by the government as the best place for the C6 Expressway promoted as their solution to the traffic congestion in Metro Manila's main road networks, especially EDSA and C5. But, beyond the strategic area lies other factors—the environmental consequences of it being near Laguna Lake, and the nature of the project's drive for commercialization which has and will continue to lead to forced evictions on hundreds, if not thousands of households in the area. This study focused on the aforementioned undermined effects of the C6 and was done on the Taytay-Taguig area where the C6 Expressway now lies and continues to expand. In the process, conducted were a number of interviews on key officials from government offices significant to the issue. Together with such, document reviews, online research and cross reference were also done through some reviews on certain literature and development theories and models, especially regarding quality of life. Regarded as crucial information, the researcher also ensured enough data collection from the affected communities regarding their living conditions before and after the C6 was constructed, particularly on their settlement, livelihood, access to social services, and their environment. The study shows that the C6 infrastructure project augmented into various alarming consequences which directly affect the people living in the areas of concern. Instead of bringing development, the effects of the project turned the other way around and brought serious detriments to the lives of majority of the directly affected communities. Thus, roads and infrastructures do not bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, but futher alleviates it. These scenarios are manifestations of the failure of the government to provide necessary and genuine development policies to alleviate people from poverty.