Urban Informal Settlements:
Community-Led Titling
In collaboration with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), TerraChain piloted a revolutionary community-led titling program in Quezon City's informal settlements.
Key Results
Families secured
Disputes resolved
Equity unlocked
Pilot duration
The Challenge
Urban informality at scale
Metro Manila's informal settlements house over 3 million people—families who have lived in these communities for generations but lack formal documentation. The challenges were unique to urban environments:
Dense Boundaries
Homes built inches apart with no clear demarcation, making traditional surveying impossible.
Overlapping Claims
Multiple families claiming same plots due to informal sales, inheritance, and rental arrangements.
Political Complexity
Barangay politics and local power structures complicated official recognition processes.
Eviction Threats
Ongoing development pressure and lack of documentation left residents vulnerable to displacement.
Our Solution
Community-validated ownership
Community Mapping
Residents themselves mapped boundaries through consensus, with neighbors validating each claim.
- Participatory mapping
- Neighbor signatures
- Community validation events
Smart Contract Disputes
On-chain dispute resolution with automated evidence timestamping and transparent arbitration.
- 72-hour resolution SLA
- Immutable evidence chain
- Barangay integration
WhatsApp Integration
Bot-based status updates and verification queries through the platform most residents already use.
- Real-time notifications
- Document submission
- Tagalog support
Community Stories
Real families, real impact
"We finally have something to pass on to our children. Our home is truly ours now. After 30 years of uncertainty, I can sleep peacefully knowing no one can take this from my family."
Maria Santos
Community Leader, Barangay Payatas
"The dispute with my neighbor had gone on for years. Through TerraChain, we sat down, the evidence was clear on the blockchain, and we resolved it in two days. Now we're friends again."
Roberto Cruz
Resident, Barangay Commonwealth
Government Perspective
"This pilot has shown us a new paradigm for urban land administration. The community-led approach combined with blockchain transparency addresses challenges we've struggled with for decades."
Secretary Eduardo del Rosario
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
Measurable Impact
Quantified outcomes after 6 months
Dispute resolution rate
All 47 disputes resolved
Average resolution time
Down from 6+ months
Bank loans issued
Using titles as collateral
Evictions
Legal protection in effect
Key Insights
Learnings for urban deployments
Community leaders are essential
Barangay captains and respected elders provided crucial legitimacy and conflict mediation.
Dispute resolution drives adoption
Word spread quickly after the first successful dispute resolution, accelerating enrollment.
WhatsApp beats custom apps
85% preferred WhatsApp bot over dedicated app due to familiarity and trust.
Women are primary beneficiaries
67% of registered titles went to women, who traditionally lacked documentation.
Next Steps
Download the Complete Case Study
Includes community mapping methodology, dispute resolution protocols, and replication guide.
Download PDF