The Politics of Urban Resettlement: The Socioeconomic Inequities Experienced by Displaced Single Mothers in Barangay Dayap, Calauan, Laguna

Abstract

The present study looked into the politics of urban resettlement by examining the socioeconomic inequities of the development-displaced single mothers in Barangay Dayap, Calauan, Laguna. An in-depth qualitative, phenomenological research of their lived experiences as a woman, a primary provider and caregiver of the household, a single person without a spouse, indigent having come from urban poverty-stricken areas, and now displaced due to the implementation of urban development projects, revealed how development-induced displacement and resettlement (DIDR) affected their livelihood or socioeconomic status in terms of their income, employment, education, and health status. The study made use of two focus group discussions, each with ten displaced single mothers from Calauan, Laguna, and semi-structured interviews with the Barangay Captain of Dayap, Calauan, Laguna and the Administrative Head and Senior Community Services Officer of National Housing Authority (NHA) Laguna District in order to identify and shed light on the struggles and inequities of displaced single mothers. Pre-set and in-vivo coding were utilized in the analysis of their responses. Three major coding themes were used to categorize and analyze data, namely: 1) effects of DIDR on DSM's socioeconomic status, 2) effects of DIDR on the social identity of DSM, and 3) effects of social identity of DSM on their socioeconomic status. Findings revealed that the layers of intersectional vulnerabilities embedded in their lived experiences immensely contributed to the impoverishment risks that they experienced. Displacement exacerbated these socioeconomic inequities due to the economic insecurity, decline in employment and livelihood opportunities, lack of educational opportunities, and physical and mental health deterioration that they experienced. Finally, the researchers provided recommendations for the continuous study of the phenomenon and the advocacy for democratic and inclusive urban development planning and resettlement policies that benefit the marginalized sectors.