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Colonialism has shaped Philippine society over the past centuries which has greatly influenced how cities are designed (Salomon, 2019). Philippine cities of the early twentieth century were compound products of colonial innovations, some of which are still reflected in the basic urban patterns. One of the deeply rooted colonial policies is the detailed recognition of spatial distribution of different social groups, keeping it governmentally, socially, and spatially separated (Doeppers, 1972).
Among the regions of Eastern Visayas, Ormoc has been heavily influenced by Spanish colonization, evident in its urban layout where key landmarks like churches, city halls, and markets cluster near the port (Salomon, 2019). According to Orellano's study (2015), Ormoc City experienced significant urban expansion from 1997 to 2015, highlighting the growth of urbanization both within its coastal and riverine areas and beyond. This expansion has coincided with a noticeable decline in vegetation cover over the same period. However, it's important to note that this reduction is not solely attributable to urban growth but also to increased areas of bare land and water bodies, posing risks such as coastal flooding and potential land subsidence.
Valeriano (2012) adds that alongside urbanization, there has been a rise in property values, which has made it increasingly challenging for low-income residents to afford housing. Consequently, many have settled on public lands, including vulnerable riverbanks and coastal zones, exposing them to heightened risks from flooding and other natural hazards.
While the City is putting effort into relocating its coastal communities in addressing the risk of climate hazards to these coastal dwellers, implementing the relocation plans and programs remains a challenge because of the unavailability of areas for relocation. Meanwhile, the city hall has already been moved to the outskirts of the city and a development plan for the mega city is already laid out. Various literature claims that the entrenched colonial thinking reflected in urban planning has been one of the factors that contributed to the failure of the government relocation efforts (von Einsiedel, 2020).
Considerably, the communities that are at risk from flooding are the most affected by the power dynamics in the City’s urban planning, understanding their everyday practices in adapting and managing flood and political struggles is a significant approach in the development of socio-ecological urban planning.