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| Federation of the Urban Poor (Philippines) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Federation of the Urban Poor (Philippines) |
| Abbreviation | FUP |
| Formation | 1997 |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Purpose | Slum dwellers' rights, housing advocacy |
| Headquarters | Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Region served | Philippines |
| Language | Filipino, English |
| Leader title | National Chairperson |
Federation of the Urban Poor (Philippines) is a national network of community-based organizations representing informal settler families in the Philippines. Formed to coordinate local tenants' groups and urban poor federations, it engages in housing advocacy, disaster relief, community organizing and legal empowerment. The federation links grassroots activism with national policy debates and connects to international movements for shelter and human rights.
The federation traces roots to grassroots organizing in Metro Manila and provincial cities during the 1990s, emerging alongside movements such as Anakpawis, Kilusang Mayo Uno, League of Filipino Students, Gabriela, and Urban Poor Associates. Early milestones include alliances with Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, Shelter-NETWORK Philippines, and local cooperatives influenced by the Peasant Movement of the Philippines. The federation participated in campaigns against eviction practices tied to projects of National Housing Authority (Philippines), Home Development Mutual Fund, and urban renewal plans promoted by Philippine Reclamation Authority. High-profile actions involved protests near sites associated with Bay City, North Harbor, Port of Manila, and redevelopment proposals linked to Ortigas Center and Bonifacio Global City (BGC). The federation engaged with legal cases referencing decisions of the Supreme Court of the Philippines and collaborated with nongovernmental organizations such as Haribon Foundation, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and Ateneo School of Government for policy research. International solidarity came from ties to Slum/Shack Dwellers International, United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and International Labour Organization initiatives.
Organizationally, the federation comprises city and barangay-based chapters modeled after participatory frameworks used by Kalinga, Ateneo de Manila University, and University of the Philippines Diliman community extension programs. Leadership rotates among elected representatives including a National Chairperson, National Secretary, and city coordinators analogous to positions in Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chapters. Decision-making occurs in national assemblies and regional councils reflecting practices found in Kilusang Mayo Uno and Gabriela Women's Party networks. Affiliated entities include savings groups and cooperatives registered with the Cooperative Development Authority, and legal aid partners reminiscent of Free Legal Assistance Group and National Union of Peoples' Lawyers. Administrative functions coordinate community mapping, membership databases, and liaison work with agencies like Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (Philippines) and local City Housing and Development Coordinators Offices.
Programs include savings mobilization, participatory mapping, and community upgrading modeled after projects by Asian Coalition for Housing Rights and Slum/Shack Dwellers International. The federation runs training on tenancy rights with resource support from Oxfam Philippines, ActionAid Philippines, and international NGOs such as Mercy Corps and Habitat for Humanity. Disaster response activities coordinate with Philippine Red Cross, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and municipal disaster offices during events like Typhoon Haiyan and 2013 Bohol earthquake. Health and livelihood initiatives have been conducted with partners including Philippine General Hospital, Department of Health (Philippines), and community clinics inspired by Dr. Fe del Mundo's public health approaches. Documentation and research collaborations mirror work by Ateneo de Manila University Research centers and University of the Philippines College of Social Work and Community Development.
The federation has campaigned on tenure security, opposing forced evictions tied to projects promoted by entities such as Ayala Land, SM Prime Holdings, and reclamation schemes associated with Manila Bay Rehabilitation. It lobbied for housing policy reforms interacting with laws and institutions like the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, Local Government Code of 1991, and hearings in the Philippine Congress. Campaign strategies have included community barricades, dialogues with mayors from cities like Quezon City, Caloocan, Makati, and public demonstrations near landmarks such as Rizal Park and Mendiola in coordination with groups including Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas and Bayan. The federation engaged in litigation support involving cases heard before the Supreme Court of the Philippines and worked with human rights organizations like Karapatan and Amnesty International on evictions linked to gentrification and infrastructure projects like Northrail proposals and airport expansions at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The federation maintains partnerships with international networks including Slum/Shack Dwellers International, United Nations Development Programme, and Habitat for Humanity International. National allies include Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, Urban Poor Associates, Homeless People’s Federation Philippines, and legal partners like Free Legal Assistance Group and National Union of Peoples' Lawyers. Collaborative projects have involved municipal governments, provincial administrations such as those in Cavite, Bulacan, and Laguna, and academic partners including University of the Philippines Diliman and De La Salle University. Funding and technical support have come from foundations and agencies like Ford Foundation, European Union, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Impact includes documented improvements in tenure security for communities in precincts of Tondo, Payatas, Caloocan, and Navotas through negotiated relocation and in-situ upgrading modeled after ASHA-style projects. The federation influenced policy dialogues on slum upgrading and community-driven development at forums organized by UN-Habitat and national agencies. Criticisms have arisen regarding negotiation outcomes with private developers such as Megaworld and SM Investments Corporation, with some activist critics from Kilusang Mayo Uno-aligned groups arguing compromises risking displacement. Scholars from Asian Development Bank-funded studies and academics at Ateneo de Manila University have debated efficacy of community federations versus state-led housing delivery. Human rights organizations including Amnesty International and local watchdogs have both praised rapid relief coordination and questioned accountability in some relocation agreements. Overall, the federation remains a central actor in Philippine urban social movements, bridging grassroots organizing and institutional engagement.
Category:Social movements in the Philippines Category:Housing rights organizations