Issues, Challenges and Prospect of Informal Settlers of the Mindanao State University in the Islamic City of Marawi

Abstract

Mindanao State University (MSU) was created under Republic Act 1387. Philippines President Garcia signed proclamation number 806 which reserved 1,000 hectares out of the Camp Keithly military reservation in Marawi City. This proclamation was later on enacted into a law when congress ceded the 1,000 hectares reservation to the University under Republic Act (RA) 3791. As time went on, many private structures built by informal settlers have bourgeoned within the vicinity of the university which decreases its original landscape. This paper is exploratory in nature and even perhaps pioneering as there are no academic papers written about the reasons of how and why the 1,000 hectares land that used to be owned by the University has shrunk to its current state. There are no known available records also showing acts of past and present administration making remedial steps in resolving the problem. Hence, this research intends to find out the reasons of the continuing and alarming increase in the population of informal settlers in MSU campus. Specifically, this research seeks to identify the mode of acquisition of informal settlers of the land that they are currently occupying in MSU Marawi (MSU, Marawi City), and it explores the problems and challenges of informal settlers in establishing residence in MSU Marawi in terms of: 1.) Peace and order 2.) Expansion of MSU Marawi. Lastly, it intends to find out the remedial measures that may be adopted to solve the problems and challenges of informal settlers in MSU Marawi.