The Lived Experiences of Dike Settlers in Barangay Daanghari, Navotas City

This study identified the reasons that influenced the dike settlers in Barangay Daanghari, Navotas City, to remain in the area, the challenges they experienced, and the coping mechanisms they employed. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, ten (10) participants were interviewed through semi-structured questions, and their responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that settlers remained due to strong ties to their hometowns, attachment to the community, limited relocation opportunities, and accessible livelihood opportunities. At the same time, they faced recurring challenges, including natural disasters, financial difficulties, and health concerns, that affected their daily lives. Despite these hardships, the settlers showed resilience through resourcefulness, improvisation, and community solidarity. Interpreted through Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, their experiences reflected the influence of family and livelihood at the microsystem, community reciprocity at the mesosystem, inconsistent government support at the exosystem, cultural values of diskarte and endurance at the macrosystem, and repeated exposure to hazards at the chronosystem. Overall, the study highlighted that the persistence of dike settlers was shaped by interconnected ecological systems that influenced their survival, identity, and decision to remain in the community.

Informal Settlers, Dike Settlers, Slums, Reasons for Staying, Challenges, Coping Mechanisms

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