Emerging Planning Practices of Civil Society Groups in Iloilo City, Philippines and Their Implications for Planning Theory by Rhodella A

Lincoln University Digital Thesis Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: you will use the copy only for the purposes of research or private study you will recognise the author's right to be identified as the author of the thesis and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate you will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from the thesis. Emerging Planning Practices of Civil Society Groups in Iloilo City, Philippines and their Implications for Planning Theory A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Management at Lincoln University by Rhodella A. Ibabao Lincoln University 2013 Abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Ph.D. in Environmental Management AbstractEmerging Planning Practices of Civil Society Groups in Iloilo City, Philippines and their Implications for Planning Theory by Rhodella A. Ibabao The aim of the thesis is to provide a better understanding of the emerging planning practices of urban civil society groups in the Philippines informed by a critique of the current debates in the post-colonial urban planning literature. This thesis is an exploration of urban planning theory in a post-colonial setting that is sufficiently normative to provide guidance to improve planning effectiveness but at the same time, such a theory should also be sufficiently pragmatic to capture the diversity of planning practices in countries such as the Philippines. The modernist planning model has been strongly criticised for being ineffective in responding to challenges in post-colonial cities. This model is seen as incompatible with the changing role of local governments which have become more inclusive of a wide variety of stakeholders in decision-making so as to facilitate collaborative initiatives in order to respond to the needs of the urban poor. In response to these concerns, alternative approaches have emerged that challenge both substantive and procedural planning orthodoxies. One of these is the insurgent planning model which is encountered most often outside the formal structures of the state and may take the form of resistance against the state. While the insurgent planning model highlights the importance of civil society groups in transforming society, it arguably fails to recognise the increasing collaborative engagement between the groups and the state. For this reason, the co-production model has been proposed to provide another alternative understanding of planning practices within civil society groups. However, current planning theory literature tends to view insurgent planning and co- production models as not only mutually exclusive, but antithetical. Scholarship tends to focus on one or the other and only a limited number of writers have suggested that civil society groups might engage in both planning practices. Conceptually informed by insurgent ii planning and co-production planning frameworks, this study was designed to interrogate collective practices of three civil society groups in Iloilo City in the Philippines. I draw on the experiences of these three case study groups, using qualitative data predominantly obtained from semi-structured interviews and participant observations. This thesis addresses three important points as theoretical contributions to the post-colonial city planning literature. The first point is the need for greater nuance between the terms ’collaboration’, ‘co-production’, ‘insurgent planning’ and ‘insurgency’ which encapsulates the categories of civil society -- state relationships. At one extreme ‘co-production’ is analogous to ‘collaboration’ or delivery of services through formal arrangements (such as contracts, tenders, or Memorandum of Agreements). A more ambivalent relationship is evident in acts requiring the co-production of knowledge or information generated by civil society groups – such as a census of the homeless – through informal means to secure rights and recognition. This co-productive stance is not exactly collaborative in a formal sense, nor is it oppositional; it occupies a complex middle ground that can help make groups more ‘visible’ to the state and to set precedence to negotiate for changes in policies and procedures. This study also makes a distinction between ‘insurgency’ as meaning engagement in armed struggle against the state itself, and ‘insurgent planning’ as involving opposition to selected state practices through formal and/or informal means that are within state-recognised or state-endorsed framework. On this basis, questions also arise around the appropriateness of the label ‘insurgent’ given the recent revolutionary history of the Philippines. The second point of the study, then, is that the term ‘insurgent’ is not useful and should be replaced by ‘transgressive’ which better captures this type of active, engaged and partially oppositional activities of civil society. The third contribution of this thesis centres on the notion of hybrid planning which signals the proposition that, in practice, groups rarely engage in either insurgent planning or co- production planning model. Rather, they adopt and engage in a combination of collective practices simultaneously: collaborative-ad-hoc, collaborative-strategic, oppositional-ad-hoc, and oppositional-strategic hoc with a somewhat murkier middle ground comprising those acts that co-produce knowledge or deliver services in the absence of the state. Keywords: insurgent planning, co-production, civil society, development studies, hybridity, Philippines, post-colonial studies, urban governance, urban planning iii Acknowledgements The following people and institutions provided invaluable contribution for the completion of this thesis: My deep gratitude goes to Professor P. Ali Memon and Dr. Suzanne Vallance, my supervision team, for their advice and encouragement in all aspects of my research. They have shown me what to aspire for as a researcher and an academic. For my scholarship, I am indebted to the University of the Philippines (UP) Doctoral Studies Fund. The financial support gave me the opportunity to study in New Zealand and experience the South Island. I also acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Lincoln University Faculty of Environment, Society and Design, and the help extended by Douglas Broughton for administrative matters. I would like to thank Sarah Edwards and Nick Kirk for editing my thesis. Their insights and guidance on grammar and expressions were very helpful. I am also grateful to the staff of the Students Learning Centre and the Lincoln University Library for their academic support and for the assistance they gave to my photo exhibit at the university. Likewise, a big thank you to the UP Visayas Chancellor’s Committee for the Culture and the Arts for sponsoring my photo exhibition at our university’s art gallery. To my friends both here in Lincoln University and in the Philippines, thank you for the understanding and insights. In New Zealand, salamat Ayako Yamamoto, Thanouxay Keovilay, Thongmala Phosikham, Kongchay Vixathep, Sarah Edwards, Linda Cleland, Reggie Billones-Baaijens, Vilma Lorca, Marie Tolentino, Noel Diaz, John Javellana, Carmelo Orbista, Thesa Rowan and Gilbert Nartea. In the Philippines, salamat Suzette, Nizette, Mike, Vbeim, Tres, Vinnie, Ma’am Lisa, Sir Itik, Ma’am Melanie, Sir JoGo, Ma’am Joy, Ma’am Tita, Ma’am Christine, Ma’am Jeanette, Ma’am Annette, Jenilee, Ms.Jo, Tita Remy, Rene, Jerilee and Cheryl. I am thankful to my colleagues for making my stay at the Forbes Graduate Office more enjoyable particularly to Tomohiro Hara, Lhakpa Lama, Shailendra Thakali, Roland Foster, Anu Lama, Steele Taylor, Peter Chamberlain and Josh Huisman. Special thanks to Glenda Hicks & Ani Kartikasari of the Lincoln Catholic Chaplaincy and to the wonderful people at the International Christian Fellowship for their spiritual support. I am also grateful to the people at the Recreation Centre for keeping me physically fit. Much affection and appreciation goes to my Mom Della, my sister Jhoanna, my brother-in- law Michael and my adorable niece Hannah. They were a constant rock of support and never wavered in their belief in me. Thanks as well to my relatives in Australia for taking care of me when I had to ‘cool down’. Much gratitude goes to AM for the love and thoughtfulness throughout the way. Finally, I am indebted to the members, volunteers and network groups of GABRIELA, HPFP and JASAC for their generosity in sharing their experiences and photos with me. Some of their photos were used in the exhibits and throughout this thesis. A deep admiration goes to the leaders of the groups: Sonia Cadornigara, Lucy Francisco, Cynthia Deduro and Msgr. Meliton Oso. Salamat for showing me what it means to be a leader. I dedicate this thesis to + the groups, and, to my Dad . iv Table of Contents Abstract......................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements...................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents......................................................................................................... v List of Tables...............................................................................................................

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