What lurks beneath the surface of Manila’s bustling port? Here at BASECO Compound, the answer isn’t treasure, but a resilient community. BASECO Compound, also known as Barangay 649, Zone 68, isn’t just another neighborhood. It’s a testament to human tenacity, etched onto reclaimed land in Manila’s Port Area. This land, once a dockyard for the National Shipyard and Steel Corporation (NASSCO), became Engineer’s Island. It even boasts a beach, a surreal escape for some Manila residents, despite the questionable water quality.
BASECO Compound’s story begins with a transfer of ownership. During President Ferdinand Marcos’s era, the Romualdez family acquired NASSCO, renaming it BASECO (Bataan Shipping and Engineering Company) in 1966. In the late 1970s, the urban poor were relocated here, clearing space for a potential international seaport. The area was formally recognized as Barangay 649, Zone 68 in the 1980s. After the 1986 People Power Revolution, the Aquino administration sequestered the land, and it became a haven for resettling families. Imagine a community rising from the remnants of a shipyard.
BASECO Compound is more than just reclaimed land. It is a patchwork of “blocks,” each a microcosm of the community’s resourcefulness. Block 40, the original settlement, spawned 39 others, expanding into the bay through reclamation projects, both official and improvised. By 1999, the entire area had access to electricity, a small victory in a long struggle for recognition and basic necessities. In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially proclaimed BASECO Compound a residential site, finally giving its inhabitants a sense of permanence. Even more recently, in 2021, the Manila city government inaugurated BaseCommunity, a housing project aiming to improve living conditions within the compound.
Life at BASECO Compound isn’t easy. The threat of flooding from typhoons and monsoons is constant. The main sources of income, scavenging, garlic peeling, and charcoal production, are physically demanding and offer meager rewards. Yet, within this challenging environment, a complex social structure has emerged. Block coordinators, elected by residents, act as liaisons to the barangay, demonstrating the community’s self-governance. Diverse cultures and religions coexist, creating a unique tapestry of human experience. BASECO Compound, often overlooked and misunderstood, pulses with life. It’s a place where resilience isn’t just a word, but a way of life. Here, amidst the challenges, a community thrives, leaving an indelible mark on the heart of Manila.