Out of Bounds: Examining Policies on Housing Access and Secure Tenure of Internally Displaced Indigenous Peoples (IDIPs) in Davao City, Philippines

Abstract

This working paper examines the policies on housing access and secure tenure of internally displaced indigenous peoples (IDIPs) in Davao City, Philippines. The Philippines has established several laws aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of indigenous peoples. When forced to leave their ancestral lands due to conflict, violence, or disasters, a gap in addressing the plight of IDIPs emerges. However, despite this legal recognition and consideration, laws in the field of human settlements, urban planning, and architectural laws in the Philippines do not explicitly address the relocation needs of IDIPs. This paper examines this gap and highlights a significant oversight in ensuring that displaced persons have access to safe, considered, and sustainable living environments after displacement.