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Squatters are individuals who settle on land without the owner's consent or legal right, typically in urban or rural areas. They often build makeshift dwellings, which can be referred to as "barong-barong" in the Philippines, on unused or abandoned land. In some cases, squatters may have been awarded homelots or housing units but have subsequently sold, leased, or transferred them and then settled illegally in the same or another area.
Key aspects of squatting:
- Lack of legal right: Squatters do not have any legal title or right to the land they occupy.
- Unauthorized occupation: They settle on land without the owner's permission.
- Informal settlements: Squatters often form communities with makeshift housing, sometimes referred to as "squatter settlements".
- "Informal settlers": In the Philippines, local media and journalists may use the term "informal settlers" as a euphemism for squatters.
- "Professional squatters": Some individuals or groups may intentionally occupy land for profit, often with the intent of selling or renting the land to others, and are referred to as professional squatters.