The Plight of Informal Settlers in the Coastal Areas of Panabo City: A Basis for Intervention

As urban areas flourished, informal settlements doubled their numbers in slew. Its manifestation is the influx of urban poor living in environmentally risky parts of the city, such as coastal areas. Aside from having a compromised settlement, their vulnerability to different hazards was prevalent. This study unfolds the plight of the informal settlers in coastal areas of the barangays Cagangohan, J.P. Laurel, and San Pedro of Panabo City; and their coping mechanisms used in dealing with the challenges in their everyday life. This inquiry used the qualitative case study research method to describe, elicit discussion, and analyze a particular situation. This has been understood through in-depth interviews with the informal settlers living along the coastal area for at least one year; and series of analyses made by the researchers. Through the data gathered, there were six (6) emerging themes extracted. These themes were the living condition predicaments, environmental health risks, struggles in family and livelihood instability, practicality and resiliency, resources utilization, and emergency tactics. This study proposes a basis for the understanding of the life experiences of informal settlers and formulation of various interventions in response to the problems, and upgrading projects for the betterment of the informal settlers; that will be undertaken in the future.