Reaching the Urban Poor: addressing inequities in health

Sitio Irrigation is the most depressed section in Barangay Palingon, Tipas, Taguig City. About 234 individuals, with 70% children and youth, belonging to 39 households are living in makeshift houses made of light materials.

The place used to be a rice field that became unproductive, and was claimed by informal settlers from various provinces. The community is connected to the secondary road through a two-feet wide concrete footbridge.

Taguig City. Overcrowding and lack of basic services, like potable water, are among the problems of the informal settlers in Sitio Irrigation in Taguig City.

Sitio Irrigation is one of the communities identified by the Taguig Local Government Unit for the Reaching the Urban Poor (RUP) Initiative. With outreach activities, community assemblies and regular visits from volunteers, the community was able to identify their major problems, and the strategies to address them. The residents of Sitio Irrigation organized themselves into a People’s Organization, and are actively working for the improvement of their water system.

The Reaching Urban Poor (RUP) Approach

The RUP Approach is a strategy to address urban health inequities among the urban poor and increase their access to basic health services. It is guided by the principles of inter-sectoral action, community partnership, social cohesion and empowerment. RUP is being implemented in nine (9) urban centers nationwide.

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