Cadiz Housing Project: Life in Close Quarters

Shortly after the devastation brought by Typhoon Yolanda, several housing projects were constructed for affected families, households living in danger zones, and those who were already homeless.

These relocation sites were designed to provide safer and more stable living conditions.

Today, many of these families continue to live in the Cadiz housing project. Years after relocation, their daily lives reflect both adjustment and endurance as they navigate life in a compact community built from recovery efforts.

The question remains: how are they now, and what does life in the housing project truly look like today?

Homes in the area are small and uniform, with basic furnishings. Many families make do with restricted living space, where every item is arranged with purpose.

Despite this, residents say they have learned to adapt and manage daily life within what is available.

Because of the proximity of houses, much of daily life is shared among neighbors. Cooking, conversations, and even conflicts can be heard through thin walls.

Privacy is limited, but residents note that awareness and communication within the community remain strong.

Community members also describe a culture of mutual support. Neighbors share food during shortages, look after children when parents are away, and help with small repairs without expecting anything in return. These acts are often done quietly and out of necessity.

There is constant movement in the area, even during times of financial difficulty. Daily routines continue as residents go to work, attend school, and manage household responsibilities within tightly packed rows of homes. Even moments of grief are often felt within the wider community.

Despite hardships and difficulties, residents say they are happy because they already have houses they can call home.

They add that without the support of the local government under former Mayor Patrick Escalante and current Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr., many of them could have remained homeless.

In the evenings, the housing project becomes quieter. Lights from small windows line the rows of houses as residents gather outside to rest after the day’s work.

Conversations often turn to employment, wages, and personal hopes that remain uncertain but ongoing.

Life in the housing project is shaped not only by hardship, but also by persistence and shared responsibility within a closely connected community.* (Erwin Mabugat)