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    Implementing asset-based community development : a case study from the Philippines : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2005) Anna, Bona
    Within the alternative development paradigm, needs-based models have been critiqued for the part they play in accentuating local deficiency and thereby increasing dependency on externally-driven development. The asset-based approach to community development (ABCD) has been presented as a capacities-focused alternative, aimed at establishing community-driven development and promoting authentic local empowerment. This thesis presents a case study into ABCD as it has been applied in a developing country context, analysing it in relationship to some of the theoretical premises of the approach and the wider development literature. The research, undertaken on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, describes how the ABCD model was implemented and adapted to local circumstances. The findings indicate that the ABCD intervention resulted in improvements within the case study community, particularly pertaining to the expansion of community facilities, livelihood choices, household incomes, individual and collective motivation, and community pride. Overall, this study endorses ABCD as an effective approach to development in the developing world, while at the same time highlighting issues associated with its implementation. Questions are also raised regarding three global development themes that emerged in the course of the study, namely the development of capacity, the management of social process and the meaning of empowerment.
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    Communicating poverty : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Philosophy, major in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2003) Pimentel, Maria Oliva Bernadette P
    Poverty is a major problem in the Philippines. Different policies and programs have been instituted to address it. Each administration designs its own program according to its definition of poverty and this serve as historical footnotes to their administration. Communication is used as a strategy to generate awareness and secure people's acceptance of poverty policies and programs. However, it has been used as a political tool to enhance an administration's image. More open forms of communication need to be developed to avoid political patronage. The study examined the poverty alleviation policies and programs of the government and attempted to gain a deeper understanding of how these were implemented. Subsequently, it assessed the role communication plays in the delivery of these programs. The research yielded a wealth of data that links poverty, communication and programs. The study reveals that people's conditions affect their capacity to gather and receive information. In their dire conditions their information needs revolve around their wellbeing, livelihood and security. Likewise, the poor rely on handed-down information and search for other forms of communication such as mass media to confirm the information. The nature of communication remains top-down despite the democratic setting, as barriers prevent unfavourable information to reach the top. The sifting of information takes place, filtering out failures of programs, which may in turn affect the image of the Presidency or the administration. The free flow of information has yet to truly manifest character. The study identified several strategies to implement this. Interpersonal communication is one of the best methods and tapping the local officials to serve as the conveyor of information, can be maximised. Several trends regarding poverty as well as communication have surfaced in the last few years. It could be summarised that the poor people's participation in the crafting of programs that affect their lives is an important aspect. It is therefore paramount to establish linkages and open communication lines between them and the government.
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    "Examining links between land title and optimisation of use of the traditional lands of the Aytas of Pastolan, Philippines : rights not felt, not seen" : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2012) Pimentel, Melanie
    The fundamental development of indigenous peoples lies in the recognition of their rights to their traditional territories. This thesis seeks to examine the experiences of indigenous communities after the formal recognition of their land rights by their respective States. It explores whether this recognition has enabled indigenous communities to achieve optimum use of their lands, whether the land is used for traditional and/or other purposes. The land rights of indigenous peoples are inextricably connected to their political, economic, and cultural rights. Thus, a framework embodying the political, economic, and cultural factors that influence the use of indigenous territories was used for data collection and analysis. Specifically, a case study was conducted on the Aytas of Pastolan, Philippines, involving six weeks of qualitative field research. The results reveal a contradiction in the outcomes of the supposed ideals and intents of the formal title for the Aytas of Pastolan. While it guaranteed them the right to live within their territories, the title has not allowed the realisation of other rights emanating from their title, including the rights to fully access their lands and resources. Essentially, the positive gains of the title are lessened by the inadequate implementation of their land rights by the government, resulting to a continued denial of the exercise of the rights of the Aytas. In conclusion, this study suggests looking beyond the indigenous land title, espousing varying ways to address the void which may emerge after the grant of the formal title, by dealing with each indigenous community distinctively in the enforcement of their rights under the title. It also calls for an assessment of the existing governing institutions of the community, that is, indigenous leadership and traditional decision-making regarding community affairs, as the community faces new challenges brought by the land title. Hence, these challenges demand institutional support, and this study joins other studies that argue a follow-up policy must be instituted, to make meaningful the land rights of indigenous communities.
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    Housing, the state and urban poor organisations in metro Manila : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Storey, Donovan
    This study has sought to place housing into social and political contexts of analysis. It suggests that the failure to house the urban poor is a result of particular political systems in operation throughout the Third World. In particular, the system of neopatrimonialism is forwarded to explain the logic of many Third World regimes and to describe the nature of their relationship with society. Civil society is neither passive nor stagnant however. The proliferation of community organisations and Non Government Organisations in the South is testimony to this. Many feel that these actors may create enough pressure to challenge current development directions. Whilst this study supports this argument it is qualified support, as the nature and direction of this change is not clearly understood nor apparent. In examining these processes research was conducted in Metro Manila during 1994. There is strong evidence to confirm the endurance of neopatrimonialism in the Philippines and its effect on the logic of politics and the character of state-society relations. There are also clear connections between the historical development of the Filipino state and the housing crisis. In looking at the response of social actors, two urban poor organisations are studied in a comparative context, as is the role of an intermediary NGO. This study finds some support for the argument that NGO/UPO alliances are more progressive and impactive than 'traditional' UPOs, though there is evidence to suggest there are as many similarities as contrasts. UPOs that operate within urban or national social movements may be involved in change, though it is still unclear whether this is progressive or will be at the forefront of social and political transformation. While UPOs play an important role in civil society, expectations of their place in an 'alternative society' should still be circumspect and cognizant of the adversities these groups confront.