Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Tension marks demolition inside Camp Karingal in Quezon City

04/30/2008 | 10:37 AM




QTV: Tension marks demolition inside Camp Karingal
04/30/2008 | 12:03 PM



Residents clash with cops during demolition in QC
04/30/2008 | 06:43 PM



1 nabbed as squatters evicted inside QC police camp

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition (TF-AID) letter to NHA General Manager Federico Laxa

Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolitions
c/o Urban Poor Associates (UPA), 25-A Mabuhay St. Brgy. Central, Quezon City
Tel.426-7615/922-0246/723-7420


Ika 21 ng Abril 2008


KGG. FEDERICO LAXA
General Manager
National Housing Authority
Elliptical Road
Quezon City


Ginoong GM Laxa,

Pagbati ng Kapayapaan!

Dalawang-buwan at kalahati na po ang lumipas mula noong ika 31 ng Enero 2008 na pagpupulong sa Heroes Hall ng Malacanang na pinamunuan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at kasama ang mga housing officials tulad po ninyo at G. Froilan Kampitan, MMDA, PCUP, mga kinatawan ng Catholic Bishops Conference na sina Arzobispo Talamayan at Obispo Villena, at mga kinatawan ng Task Force Anti Illegal Demolition. Sa susunod na mga araw kami po ay mag-uulat sa mga kinatawan ng CBCP; sila po ay nagpaabot sa amin ng kanilang kagustuhan na malaman ano ang mga nangyari at nangyayari pagkatapos ng pulong sa Malacanang.

Kung susumahin ang mga sumusunod po ang mga mahalagang napagpasyahan at sinangayunan ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sa nasabing pulong:

1. Gawing relokasyon ang mga lugar na nasa lungsod at malalapit sa lungsod (in-city and near-city relocation sites) tulad ng Navotas, Taguig at Montalban/Rodriguez.

2. Walang cut-off date ukol sa mga benepisyaryo ng UDHA. Lahat ng mga maralitang tagalungsod ay saklaw ng batas at ng proteksyon nito.

3. Mayroong dagdag na badyet na 4 bilyong piso para sa panglipunang pabahay laluna sa mga pamilyang apektado ng mga proyektong imprastruktura ng pamahalaan at mga pamilyang nasa danger areas.

4. Maglabas ng Post-Proclamation Implementing Rules and Regulations upang ang mga lupang naiproklama ng pamahalaan ay mapaunlad (upgrading) at sa kalaunan ay maipamahagi sa mga naninirahan doon.

5. Ang BASECO ay para sa socialized housing at hindi para sa gamit komersyal. Ang gagawing reklamasyon ng PRA (Philippine Reclamation Authority) na malapit doon ay para din sa socialized housing.

6. Walang demolisyon kung walang relokasyon. Dapat sundin, kasama na ang Department of National Defense, ang prosesong nakasaad sa batas at magbigay ng 45 araw na palugit bilang social preparation.

Naglabas ng mga instruksyon ang ating Pangulo na naitala sa katitikan ng pulong ng pinadala namin sa kanya at mga Obispo at ang katititkan na nilabas ni PCUP (kalakip ng sulat):

Ngunit mula noon hanggang ngayon patuloy na nagaganap ang mga demolisyon at mga banta ng demolisyon ng mga bahay na mga pamilyang naninirahan sa mga tinataguirang danger areas at mga pamilyang apektadong ng mga proyektong imprastruktura ng pamahalaan.

Malinaw ang tugon at direktiba ni Pangulong Arroyo na bigyan ng prayoridad ang in-city at near city relocation sites tulad ng Taguig, Navotas at laluna ang Montalban dahil ito’y malapit at mayroong mga batayang serbisyo. Ngunit hanggang ngayon ang patuloy na inaalok na mga relokasyon ay malalayo at kulang na kulang sa mga batayang serbisyo tulad ng Calauan at Towerville.

Sa pakikipag-usap kay AGM Kampitan nitong nakarang mga lingo, sinabi niya ang dalawang bagay kung bakit hindi tumutulak ang Montalban; walang interesadong developer na gustong pumasok sa Montalban at ang suspension ni Mayor Cuerpo. Kami po nagtatanong: kailan po ninyo binuksan ang bidding at/o paglalabas ng patalastas upang maghikayat ng developer? Malamang na nabasa na po ninyo ang kopya ng proposal na isinumite ni Mayor Cuerpo kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Ano po ang komentaryo o feedback ninyo? Ayon sa proposal na ito may 6,000 lote na pag-aari ng HGC, 300 ektarya na mga abandoned subdivisions at 500 ektaryang lupa sa Lungsod Silangan na maaaring gamitin bilang relokasyon ng mga maralita mula sa Metro Manila.

Ang mga pamahalaang lokal ng Navotas at Taguig ay may mga inihain sa Pangulo na relokasyon sa loob ng siyudad. Ayon sa direktiba ni Pangulong Macapagal-Arroyo dapat kakausapin sila, kasama ang LGU ng Montalban/Rodriguez. Ano po ang resulta ng pag-uusap? Naresolba na po ang usapin ng pondo mula sa national government para sa kanilang in-city relocation site proposals?

Ano po ang mga pagkilos at plano ng NHA upang matugunan ang mga direktiba ng Pangulo? Panahon po ngayon ng bakasyon at may mga pamilyang inilikas at nangagambang ililikas.

Noong ika 25 ng Pebreror 2008 nagsimula ang paglikas ng mga pamilyang biktima ng maling demolisyon ng MMDA sa Nissan, Tatalon mula sa “staging area” patungo sa Towerville, ngunit mas matindi pa ang nangyari sa mga pamilyang ito; sapagka’t mula sa staging area kung saan may direktang nasisilungan pa sila patungo sa Towerville na wala kahit na isang pirasong bubong na naihanda. Hindi rin handa ang mga sasakyan ng First Batch na inilikas.

Ganito rin ang napipintong problemang haharapin ng mga kasapi ng 787 Neighborhood Association sa Barangay Sta Cruz, lungsod ng Quezon, na ang napiling relokasyon ay Montalban.

Nitong mga nakaraang araw kinakausap na rin ng mga opisyales ng barangay at LGU ng Pasay ang mga pamilyang naninirahan sa tabing Estero Tripa de Gallina. Sinabihan silang ililikas sila sa Calauan. Ngunit ang mga apektadong pamilya, kasama na ang mga lider na nakadalo sa pulong sa Malacanang ay naninindigang Montalban ang pinipili nilang relokasyon.

Ang mga pamilyang naninirahan sa Estero de Paco at sa mga komunidad tulad ng Tondo, Sta Cruz at Sampaloc sa lungsod ng Maynila na apektado NSLP (Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project) ay matagal nang naninindigan na Montalban ang kanilang relokasyon.

Ayon sa Philippine Fishport Development Authority sa darating na ika 30 ng Abril 2008 sisimulan ang paggiba ng mga bahay sa Market 3, Philippine Fishport, Navotas. Pera po ang inaalok ng PFDA sa kanila ngunit ang karamihan ng mga apektadong pamilya ay gustong magpalikas sa Montalban.

Ibig po naming magkaroon ng kalinawan ang mga nabanggit na usapin at kagyat na magsagawa ng kaukulang aksyon ang inyong tanggapan upang umandar ang mga napagkaisahan sa Malakanyang.

Gayun din, mungkahi naming na gawin nating aktibo ang paglahok namin sa mga aksyon at kilos na inyong isasagawa, upang kami ay makasubaybay sa buong proseso ng paghahanda at pagsasaayos ng mga gawain alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Para sa Katiyakan sa Isang Disente, Makatao at Abot-Kayang Pabahay,


Gumagalang,


TASK FORCE-AID

Friday, April 18, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY: Urban poor groups set to stage protest rally at the NHA office in QC

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Urban poor groups set to stage protest rally at the NHA office in QC

Urban poor groups led by the Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition (TF-AID) will stage a rally on Monday at the National Housing Authority (NHA) main office in Quezon City to protest the government agency’s non-compliance of the PGMA’s instructions issued January 31st 2008 in Malacañang Palace in a meeting attended by housing officials, urban poor representatives and CBCP representatives Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan and Bishop Ramon Villena.

In that meeting the President agreed to in-city and near-city relocation sites in Taguig, Navotas and Montalban. So the urban poor leaders will ask NHA General Manager Laxa what he has done regarding these sites.

The President also said in that meeting that she has allocated 4 billion pesos for families affected by gov’t infrastructure projects and for families living in danger areas. The TF-AID will ask NHA what happened to the money.

The urban poor leaders say they will report to the CBCP the outcome of the meeting with NHA.

Photo ops: Protesters will line up for porridge (lugaw) to dramatize the situation of urban poor people who will be displaced amid looming food crisis.

Date: April 21, 2008 (Monday)

Time: 10:00 AM

Venue: In front of the National Housing Authority (NHA) Main Office, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

TRO sought against MMDA, DPWH, PNR, NHA to stop forced eviction

** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **

TRO sought against MMDA, DPWH, PNR, NHA to stop forced eviction

16 April 2008. To prevent their eviction and the demolition of their houses, settlers along the railway and Radial Road 10 (R-10) are seeking a temporary restraining order against the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Railways (PNR) and National Housing Authority (NHA).

Petitioners filed their petition for a TRO and preliminary injunction April 16 at the Supreme Court. The settlers who live along the railroad tracks in Sta. Cruz, Tondo and Sampaloc, Manila are being threatened with demolitions and evictions due to the Northrail Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP). While the residents along R-10, North Bay Boulevard in Navotas City are affected by the road-widening project.

The government agencies should be prohibited from evicting the informal settlers and demolishing houses since the evictions are being carried out in utter violation of the constitutional guarantees and safeguards regarding forced evictions vis-à-vis Republic Act 7279, otherwise known as the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA), according to the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization who provided the assistance through its legal unit, the St. Thomas More Law Center.

“The respondent government agencies brazenly laid down its plan of actions for the year 2008 which involve the demolition of houses and evictions of thousands of urban informal settlers in the guise of carrying out its development and/or clearing operation along the whole stretch of railroad tracks and Road 10, Navotas City,” the counsel for the petitioners, lawyer Bienvenido Salinas Jr. and Ritche Esponilla, said in a statement.”

Other NGOs such as the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) and Community Organizers of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation co-sponsored the filing of the case.

The group cited the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) who admittedly observed several flaws in the conduct of demolitions and evictions in urban poor communities. Such violations are: a mere 5 five days verbal notice; No consultation; Insufficient fund; No relocation; Proponent (like MMDA) do not apply for the Certificate of Compliance with PCUP as required by E.O. 152; Affected families are forced to receive financial assistance instead of relocation; Relocation sites have few if any available economic opportunities; and Relocation sites have no adequate basic services.

“These looming threats of eviction and demolition despite non-compliance with what are required by no less the Constitution and UDHA – e.g. prior notice/s, adequate relocation and consultation which continuously being undertaken by the respondent government agencies inflict gross injustice on the urban poor community. The effect and impact of massive displacements of affected families, including women and children, cannot be denied.”

Petitioners are aware of the basic principle on the observance of hierarchy of courts. With due deference, however, petitioners find it proper to file this suit directly before the Supreme Court under the exception that “when the issue at hand transcends national interest and with a sense of urgency, petition of this nature may be filed directly with the High Court.”

“Undeniably, the issue at hand which will create, as in fact it has created in last year’s demolitions and evictions, massive displacement of affected families within the railroad tracks transcends national interest. This concerns human beings who are also accorded basic rights by no less the Constitution itself to life and shelter. They cannot simply be dragged and forced from their makeshifts in the guise of development and promotion of general welfare.”

Some 50,000 families living on the railroad tracks will be evicted because of the railway project. About 30,000 families still remain on the tracks. While some 16,000 families along R-10 will be evicted due to the road-widening project. -30-

Urban poor group seeks SC's help vs demolitions

Urban poor asks Supreme Court to stop demolitions

Manila, Navotas residents seek TRO vs MMDA demolition

Group asks SC to stop eviction of railway residents


Group says railway project to displace 50,000 families

Stop to demolition

Monday, April 14, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY : Settlers to seek Supreme Court TRO against MMDA, DPWH, PNR, NHA to stop forced eviction

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Settlers to seek Supreme Court TRO against MMDA, DPWH, PNR, NHA to stop forced eviction

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) and Community Organizers of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation request your presence at a media conference to be held at the Max’s Restaurant on Wednesday, April 16 (11:00 AM).

It will coincide with the filing of Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Railways (PNR) and National Housing Authority (NHA).

Settlers who will be affected by the Northrail Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP) in Manila and the road-widening project along Radial Road 10 (R-10) in Navotas are seeking a TRO at the Supreme Court to prevent their eviction and the demolition of their houses in the absence of compliance with what is required by the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA).

Some 50,000 families living on the railroad tracks will be evicted because of the railway project. About 30,000 families still remain on the tracks. While some 16,000 families along R-10 will be evicted due to the road-widening project.


Press Conference

Date: April 16, 2008 (Wednesday)

Time: 11:00 AM

Venue: Max’s Restaurant, 1123 Ma. Orosa St., Brgy. 669, Ermita, City of Manila (Mercedes Function Room)

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Hanjin evicts squatters in Subic

04/09/2008 | 07:59 PM





Relocated Subic illegal settlers unhappy with new homes
04/09/2008 | 10:10 PM

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