tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33150046359484430942024-03-17T09:04:18.384-07:00The Daily Urban PoorUrban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-81359134935925718472017-04-10T03:52:00.002-07:002017-04-10T03:52:41.105-07:00Urban Poor Kalbaryo 2017<div class="MsoHeader">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='position:absolute;
margin-left:65pt;margin-top:-21.75pt;width:70.6pt;height:47.05pt;z-index:-3'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\UPA-PR~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![if gte mso 9]><o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="PBrush"
ShapeID="_x0000_s1026" DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1553350484">
</o:OLEObject>
<![endif]><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout; position: relative; z-index: -3;"><span style="height: 63px; left: 87px; position: absolute; top: -29px; width: 94px;"><br /></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 22.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<b><span style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 22.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4awiFhpKTl0YQ9m5e6JqrQ2p5i3nKmoQp6Icx8QAs1X_1q_CHJ78kZ25DAFHpCvh9gm8l0d8_4zV0tKCJ5e4kNVqhSJ2Olal1ey6j_7jvVfmTKN4v0vl5C_I8-DTD2f7Hvqa0OLL2nuk/s1600/2015+Kalbaryo++Banner+RED+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4awiFhpKTl0YQ9m5e6JqrQ2p5i3nKmoQp6Icx8QAs1X_1q_CHJ78kZ25DAFHpCvh9gm8l0d8_4zV0tKCJ5e4kNVqhSJ2Olal1ey6j_7jvVfmTKN4v0vl5C_I8-DTD2f7Hvqa0OLL2nuk/s640/2015+Kalbaryo++Banner+RED+100.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<b><span style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 22.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoHeader">
<b><span style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 22.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 22.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Urban Poor Associates </span></b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central,
Q.C. Telefax: 4264118 Tel.: 4264119 / 4267615<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ref:
Princess Asuncion-Esponilla
Mobile phone: 0919.3133949 </span></u><a href="http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 239.4pt;" valign="top" width="319">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 21.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">MEDIA
ADVISORY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">10 April
2017<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and
Photojournalists</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 26pt;">Urban Poor Kalbaryo 2017<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></h3>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">3000
individuals from the urban poor sector, together with Urban Poor Associates
(UPA) and Community Organizers Multiversity (COM) on April 11, Tuesday, will
hold the annual Kalbaryo ng Maralita, a re-enactment of the sufferings of Jesus
Christ by the poor people. The group
will gather 7:00-8:00AM at Plaza Miranda, Quiapo before they march to Mendiola
for their dramatization of Kalbaryo. <o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
big march is a reminder to the President that the poor people are closely
watching and monitoring events under his administration. Poor people feel very
deeply that their lives are being sacrificed in the guise of peace and order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The
poor people will be marching with seven crosses having themes that range from, ‘Stop
Extra Judicial Killing and the Death Penalty, Reducing the age of criminal
responsibility, Uncertainty in the provision of housing and basic services,
proliferation of fake news, climate change and evictions, culture of fear, and
the decreasing space for the free and critical participation of the citizenry.’
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This
Kalbaryo’s main highlight is the skit where Jesus portrayed by a poor man will
be nailed on the cross by PDurtz, Batorte, pro-death penalty Congressmen and
Senators, and Mochang Angel. At the end of the scene, Jesus will be crucified
with the words, “Nanlaban” (fought back) an emphasis that the poor people are
unjustly killed in the war against drugs by saying that they fought back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;">Date: April 11, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;">Time: 7:00AM-12:00Noon<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;">Assembly
Area: Plaza Miranda, Quiapo<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1.5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;">Program
Area: Peace Arch, Mendiola<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 25.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;">Please
Cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VR9dIDy73zL1s66065KfQgpnxzY7I3s5ZsWpuUE5Fvo9fPYJVp7ew7idmqCKWl70Vdbc4-ybHNcyC2pB2GqbFaaQ2FXhPATocPX_C1mE5SE2UMg40z_A11rtHtqpPqCOKdZ5W8OfTco/s1600/2017+Kalbaryo+Program.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VR9dIDy73zL1s66065KfQgpnxzY7I3s5ZsWpuUE5Fvo9fPYJVp7ew7idmqCKWl70Vdbc4-ybHNcyC2pB2GqbFaaQ2FXhPATocPX_C1mE5SE2UMg40z_A11rtHtqpPqCOKdZ5W8OfTco/s640/2017+Kalbaryo+Program.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 25.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 20.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><!--[endif]--></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-32778747559097505802014-07-12T02:02:00.000-07:002014-07-17T02:08:21.304-07:00Change the strategy<div style="text-align: justify;">
Philippine Daily Inquirer</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the New York City subway, there are signs telling people to notify a policeman if they see something dangerous happening: “If you see something, tell someone.” In Tacloban, there are hundreds of people, from all walks of life, who want to tell whatever “policeman” is listening that the government’s relocation plans in their city are loading one more disaster on the shoulders of poor people who have suffered enough.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As many as 20,000 families, who are still mourning the deaths of their loved ones in the onslaught of Typhoon “Yolanda,” as well as the loss of their jobs and homes, will be relocated from downtown Tacloban where they live to hills and logged-over woodland far north where there are no jobs. Most of the families will be sent to temporary housing, which is good for one or two years at most. Hopefully, they will be transferred to permanent housing within the two-year period, though there are doubts that the government can meet such deadlines.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This relocation plan violates the central lesson learned from the many relocations of poor people from Metro Manila in the years 1965 to the present: that you cannot relocate poor families far from the city because there are no jobs in these far-off places, and government cannot create jobs for so many people. Government is sending thousands of families, wounded in soul and body, to survive without work in strange surroundings, in deteriorating houses.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
True, people can commute back to Tacloban to earn a minimum wage of P260. But by the time a family subtracts 20 percent of the earnings for transportation and other work-related expenses (baon, for example), there is little money left. We have also learned that a poor family cannot survive decently on a single low-income salary. The mother must work part-time; the children must help after school.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is, however, no demand for washerwomen or manicurists in relocation areas; children can scavenge in-city, but there is no valuable scrap in a community of poor people. It is better, economically and socially, for rich and poor to live side by side. It may also be better in a religious way. Living side by side, rich and poor learn to know one another, which makes the Church of the Poor more feasible in our lifetime.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Alternatives</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Are there alternatives? Thankfully, there are. There is more than enough idle land in Tacloban suitable for housing. The Bank of the Philippine Islands, for example, has printed a list of about 40 pieces of property it has foreclosed in Tacloban. Some of these areas measure 6 hectares. Some haven’t been used for 20 years. We had an engineer look at one of these 6-hectare properties, and he told us that very little money would be needed to prepare the land for housing.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is a list of just one bank. There are other banks, businesses, government agencies and private individuals with similar land holdings.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A government that has concern for its poor people can make these landowners offers they can’t refuse, that can be well within the law and customs of a democracy. The Church teaches that God made the world for all. No one, no entity, can hold idle land which poor people need to survive. We are stewards of the land, not absolute owners in God’s eyes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The people have suffered enough. In-city relocation is relatively painless. The people work with a contractor (government, nongovernment or private) to build the houses. They can decide what type of house and overall community development they want. They move in when the houses are ready. They can usually walk to work or take a short jeepney ride. All the services are available because the main water and light lines, hospitals, schools, markets, churches, etc. are already in place around the site.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To understand the uncertainty and pain of distant relocation in a temporary housing area, it is necessary to visit one. We were in the Operation Compassion (OC) relocation site in New Kawayan, 10 kilometers north of the barangays of Tacloban from which the people had come. We were there because it was raining and we had met two small boys shivering in the cold who were from the OC site and were out searching for firewood. We took them home and then the thunderstorm hit, so we decided to wait it out there. The 78 homes are all alone in an area of old fields and overgrowth. The wind and rain battered the houses that were shuttered up like turtles in danger. We wondered what the people would do if someone in the community had to be taken to a hospital at night. There were no vehicles in the community that we could see.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The storm passed, the sun came out, and the beautiful children spilled out of the houses to play in the street. It struck me that the children would suffer the most in the future in that relocation site. Food was scarce, some women told us, because community feeding was stopped a month or more ago. One mother told us she could live in the house for six months because she was told she would transfer to a permanent home in six months. She may be disappointed. The construction of permanent homes is moving very slowly in the government’s pilot project, which is also in New Kawayan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
How will the mother react when she has to stay a year, two years or more in that house? Added to all her problems will be the experience of living in a rapidly deteriorating house.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hunger</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
People in Barangay 88, 89 and 90, as well as people in the temporary houses outside Tacloban, say there has been growing hunger ever since the government and the United Nations agencies ended the community feeding programs. The expectation was that new jobs and cash-for-work programs would help the poor enter once again into a cash economy after six months of community feeding.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
However, Tacloban still has a long way to go: Only 2,008 businesses are active now out of the 12,900 businesses that were active last year. Jobs are scarce. Fishing has its down seasons. There are no large cash-for-work programs organized.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With growing hunger comes an increase in petty crimes and violence. Perhaps it’s time to restore the feeding programs. Why were they stopped, in the first place?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Change the relocation strategy and resume the feeding programs, before it is too late and we discover that we have clusters of poor people close to death all throughout the northern part of Leyte.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<br />
<br />Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-18166875728391777722014-06-30T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-30T00:00:12.413-07:00Night rains<div style="text-align: justify;">
Philippine Daily Inquirer</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many of us lie awake these nights listening to the rain race across the city, wave after wave. We may be grateful for the dry homes we have. We may feel the hostility of the wind and rain and think of the poor people trying to get through the night in kariton hauled up on the sidewalks, or the people sleeping in doorways, allowed to do so by the security guards out of simple compassion, or the people in the shanties of the slums where mothers gather the children as close to them as possible to keep them dry and comforted.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We may think of the “Yolanda” survivors’ tents that leak whenever it rains, and we can sense the people’s fear that another typhoon is upon them. After some time we may realize very well that as a people, we haven’t done nearly enough for our poor brothers and sisters and their children. We can do much better.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Each city is supposed to acquire land and provide housing for its own landless poor. No city does enough. The national government is supposed to support the local initiatives with advice, funds and models. Despite the efforts of many good people, not nearly enough is done at the national level either. The country’s war on poverty is in a trough. Little happens that is very good or very bad. We hear a monotonous “no” from the government when working people, including teachers, ask for a salary raise. Land reform ends this month—unmourned, it seems. It ends “not with a bang but a whimper,” to use T.S. Eliot’s words. There is little movement in any direction. It may take a presidential election to wake us up.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It all comes down to the President to get something going. It is his team. Can he do something to renew hope in the poor that concrete good things will happen to them? What actions can he take that will kick-start meaningful development and recapture the trust in him that the poor had at the beginning of his term of office? I suggest that he proclaim land for the poor in four areas of Metro Manila. Others may have other suggestions.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last June 7, 5,000 people led by Bella dela Rosa, Marlon Querante, Lito Tejada and Rowena Nevado walked 10 kilometers around the Manggahan Floodway to air their desire for a proclamation that would give them land tenure security and banish the sword of eviction that has dangled over them since the floodway was constructed in the 1970s. There are 40,000 families living on its banks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nearby in Lupang Arenda, some 63,000 families also want a proclamation. Arenda has grown almost unnoticed to the size of Cagayan de Oro or Dagupan. In Slip Zero, Tondo, a group of strong women has led 200 families on a 15-year search for a proclamation, and in Isla Puting Bato, 1,000 families want a chance at a new life.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Proclamations offer a new life, in that the poor get to own a piece of land that they develop with their neighbors into permanent, attractive and truly democratic villages. Proclamations don’t cost the government any outlay of cash, and they are very popular. They can be issued within a month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The President has only one small proclamation to his credit. Why should we think he will proclaim land for half a million people in the four areas? First, he may have begun to listen to the criticism of his economy, coming from persons like Pope Francis. Rarely has a pope spoken so sharply on any subject as Francis has on the evils of economies like ours. Maybe the President, through his trips around the country, has seen that things are far from well and adjustments have to be made on his plans.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To proclaim the areas just mentioned will give many families a kick-start toward decent urban living, but, equally important, the proclamations will hopefully kick-start the administration toward a more direct service to the poor that will complement the many moves of assistance that the President has made for well-off business people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A certain disenchantment has set in between the poor and the President. They like him and admire him for his honesty, peace-keeping and firm foreign policy, but he has become a remote figure. When was the last time he visited an urban poor area, or a rural barrio, or a fishing or tribal village, or a factory, to talk to the people? Such symbolic visits and conversations are important. How will the President know the people’s problems and their sorrows unless he listens to them? How will they know that he is aware of their problems and sincerely cares what happens to them?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Maybe the President will see the value of direct action and visit Negros one day with soldiers to arrest the hacenderos who use the law and violence to frustrate land reform. Maybe, he’ll go to Tacloban and see the poor families in tents that leak when it rains and turn into ovens when the sun is out, and he’ll take charge of the hunt for land for relocation. Maybe, people hope, he will realize he has done more than enough for the rich and powerful and must turn his attention to his poor brothers and sisters.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Such presidential action may invigorate the government and send a surge of energy through the ranks and bring back among the poor some of the hope they had in the early days of his administration.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Proclaim Manggahan, Arenda, Slip Zero and Isla Puting Bato, Mr. President.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We must work while we have the light, Jesus told us, “for the night comes when no man works” (John 9:4).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The end of his presidency and his great chance to help is drawing rapidly to an end.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/76093/night-rains#ixzz365NzYF9J </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook</div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-15142006520349558602014-06-21T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-25T22:04:15.666-07:00Make it look easy, Indonesia<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Commentary</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">By Denis Murphy</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">INDONESIA, the Philippines’ sister republic to the south, has solved one of the great cultural-political dilemmas of modern times: It has shown that Islam and democracy are compatible. Most talk on this matter focuses on the West and the Middle East and is very negative about the chances of the two cultures living in peace with each other. Just recently, for example, the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt was seen by some writers as “the death of political Islam.” Indonesia has solved the problem and made it look easy. There was none of the riots, battles, or furious demonstrations we have seen elsewhere.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Wardah Hafidz, an Indonesian woman who has led national urban poor movements for years, told us: “It will not be Islam’s fault if it and democracy part ways. It will be the fault of the people’s culture and history.” Wardah views Islam from the point of view of the very poor, from which point of view both poor Muslims in Indonesia and poor Catholics in the Philippines see their God as the source of all mercy and loving care. They don’t see why that Holy God of theirs would be interested in politics.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">We should remember that Indonesia is the third largest democratic country in the world, with 200 million people. Some 86 percent of them are Muslim, so it is the largest Muslim country in the world. It is a democratic and Muslim giant, so what happens there has significance for both democracy and Islam.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">We were still interested in seeing how Islam was lived out in ordinary life among the people, so we went last May 30 to a political rally of presidential candidate Joko Widodo in Surabaya. Except for the language, it was like any political rally in Manila, Davao or Cebu. The grounds were packed with young and old, mostly poor people, but many well-off people as well, about 12,000-15,000 all together.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Widodo spoke softly, as if he were in a conversation with the crowd; he told jokes that had the people laughing. It took the people a second or two to understand the meaning of his jokes, it seemed to me, and then they laughed as though they saw then how the funny story could make a political point. He talked very briefly and then was whisked through the people, who pushed in to see and touch him.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">It was his third stop of the day that began at dawn 1,000 kilometers away in Jakarta. He would fly to Bali for the final stop. When I asked myself what person he called to mind, I thought of Abraham Lincoln—that is, his manner and plain dress spoke of Lincoln. We’ll have to wait to see what he does for his country, should he be elected.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">One night we visited a community along the Surabaya River. The government had allowed the families to stay near the river if they would chop three meters off their houses and build a road instead. They did that with a great deal of suffering, but now they have permanent homes along a lovely waterway. Late in the evening the young girls and women danced—this was the modern, naughty, total-effort dancing we see in Manila. Some wore the veil (hibab). I watched an old woman near me in full Muslim dress. Her face wasn’t covered in the way we often see in other Muslim countries. She was beaming like she would burst as she imitated the young women as best she could. Faster went the music, and she looked for someone to bump hips with. Alas, I was the only one near her. She wasn’t ready for that meeting with the secular world.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">At a seminar I asked a young Muslim girl wearing the veil what the Koran had to say about the poor and helping the poor. Her name was Habi (Love). She told me: “Muslims are told we should be with the poor people. It is a demand to live in peace and modesty and to love and care for the poor people in need.”</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Muslims seem just as much at home in the politics and democratic and secular world of Indonesia as Christians are in Manila.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Indonesians speak softly, even when they are angry, but that doesn’t mean they are all gentle people. There is a movement now in Indonesia urging people not to forget the past, and to remember the estimated one million people—communists, communist sympathizers, people simply interested in justice and a better life, and personal enemies—who were slaughtered by the army of General Suharto in the mid-1960s as he climbed to power.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, formerly of the National Commission on Women and a longtime pro bono lawyer for urban poor causes, told me that the people are also asked to remember the plunder of the Suharto years and the human rights atrocities in East Timor and Aceh, and to watch out that the friends and relatives of Suharto don’t rise again to power.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">We, too, should not forget. The Philippines has had just as many sorrows and villains as Indonesia.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">The people I met are well aware of the limitations of their democracy, just as people here are aware of this country’s weaknesses. They are especially worried about the growing income gap between the rich and the poor, and the strains it puts on democracy, and the growing power of foreign investors and multilateral lending institutions.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Most of all, the people we met wanted their leaders to be close to and listen to the people, and include the opinions of the people in their decision-making.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Leaders of the Philippine government also need to listen more carefully before they decide what to do with the poor. It is frightening in a way to find the government deciding how and where the poor in the areas devastated by “Yolanda” will live, when there has been almost zero consultation with them on housing matters, according to a recent Oxfam survey. Only 7 percent of the people interviewed in the study had been consulted in any way on the question of housing.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@gmail.com).</span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/75788/make-it-look-easy-indonesia#ixzz35iYIpyDy </span></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook</span></span></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-7330293017876199782014-06-13T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-13T00:00:13.292-07:00Urban Poor NGO Appeal For Respect to Land Rights<div style="text-align: center;">
Urban Poor Associates</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C. Telefax: 4264118 Tel.: 4264119 / 4267615</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ref: Princess Asuncion-Esponilla Mobile phone: 0908 1967450 http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5efoofbywt5YT9Ze2efFhM5Tz4hKycJHFJypSYsUHDIJ0CgIPsc_ChXCTD_d7O0c2q16gmjTO8i25gDKWta6Rfu4Ra3nMZe-qitmg7bqn_zVoQyupVsYB5D6LXQH4IXsoJHDLU6g2jtE/s1600/DSC08031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5efoofbywt5YT9Ze2efFhM5Tz4hKycJHFJypSYsUHDIJ0CgIPsc_ChXCTD_d7O0c2q16gmjTO8i25gDKWta6Rfu4Ra3nMZe-qitmg7bqn_zVoQyupVsYB5D6LXQH4IXsoJHDLU6g2jtE/s1600/DSC08031.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
13 June 2014. Urban Poor Associates, (UPA) a housing rights advocate held a first forum on Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) or Republic Act 7279 to Yolanda survivors and International Organizations Friday 9 AM-12 Noon at the Grand Stand Session Hall, Sta. Cruz Street, Tacloban City. The forum is an appeal to respect land rights and to allow Yolanda survivors to have access to transitional housing in their existing places while in wait for the permanent housing. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Atty. Ritche Esponilla, UPA Legal Counsel said, “The forum aims to provide understanding of UDHA / RA 7279 to ensure that the affected families will have an informed decision on their housing options.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Celia Santos, UPA UDHA Advocacy Officer based in Tacloban said, “This is an effort to lessen the suffering of affected families living in tents by educating them on their land rights particularly on the right for an adequate consultation. Consultation does not happen in most disasters stricken areas based on Oxfam study.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to a recent Oxfam Briefing Paper on permanent relocation, 81 percent of the people interviewed “stated they are not aware of their rights regarding permanent relocation,” and only 7 percent of those interviewed said “they had been consulted by a government official at the barangay, municipal or national level about the relocation process.” (New and Old Wineskins by Denis Murphy, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 29, 2014)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MLbbG2xEdz7cyvxk3OdI9kjqUqTqJr7coCAKZtfBIc4WbmflqnFECv8yqn33D7i4rIHDcrgCfxPcKI1MaeVvjbgGd11kdJOM2cFa8UKGDGnQmLyHRt6TBrira3Gjy5nNa6Y7whE0TDw/s1600/DSC07979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MLbbG2xEdz7cyvxk3OdI9kjqUqTqJr7coCAKZtfBIc4WbmflqnFECv8yqn33D7i4rIHDcrgCfxPcKI1MaeVvjbgGd11kdJOM2cFa8UKGDGnQmLyHRt6TBrira3Gjy5nNa6Y7whE0TDw/s1600/DSC07979.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The forum supports:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Immediate implementation of the repair or rebuild on-site for transitional housing in affected areas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Transitional housing for those who opted outside the affected areas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Make public the correct land inventory per barangay so, that people can effectively participate in choosing housing and land options as mandated by the UDHA law or RA 7279.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Speed up the construction of permanent housing in safe areas with decent housing, basic services and available jobs.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the meantime, put in place safe evacuation areas, identify evacuation areas per district if possible per Barangay, make a community drill on complete disaster preparedness program and to ensure that when disaster hit, there is an abundant food supplies for affected families. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Respect everyone land rights.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wr_XUM0lj7k41Gf51PR0F8PiOmaR6BKqSzhL-zJNkZThewT8dnt4epXGCLpkyxFBP-q39LRQAqdSNuCvBtI0eVdbIieLDZaY9lFTnze0u_93hdoXOk87bEmmwCiBtWdm-gVK-t4NFv0/s1600/DSC08021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Wr_XUM0lj7k41Gf51PR0F8PiOmaR6BKqSzhL-zJNkZThewT8dnt4epXGCLpkyxFBP-q39LRQAqdSNuCvBtI0eVdbIieLDZaY9lFTnze0u_93hdoXOk87bEmmwCiBtWdm-gVK-t4NFv0/s1600/DSC08021.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mary-Ann Guinoohan, a resident of Barangay 89, San Jose District, Tacloban said, “We are happy to be informed of our housing rights. This is the first time that someone explains to us that there is a law protecting poor people housing rights. We are hopeful that in the meantime, the government will give us transitional housing on the site especially that rainy season has started.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx3eljQN4M9J8lPfQW1dnG8OG2kXQOyXp7JVNFwO0Zzgx9eYeudUloG_657N7l1zS-l6Le1M9dnxogBJCvtXLlq7NqnvdJQlLmGgEoNYWWX5FHo7r7Kt3bB1xg9kjzrQjhCsouDcrkX8/s1600/DSC07974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOx3eljQN4M9J8lPfQW1dnG8OG2kXQOyXp7JVNFwO0Zzgx9eYeudUloG_657N7l1zS-l6Le1M9dnxogBJCvtXLlq7NqnvdJQlLmGgEoNYWWX5FHo7r7Kt3bB1xg9kjzrQjhCsouDcrkX8/s1600/DSC07974.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a>The forum was supported by the Office of the Vice Governor, Commission on Human Rights, International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Community and Family Services International (CFSI).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-30-</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-77246240860864760672014-06-07T06:00:00.000-07:002014-06-09T22:46:36.422-07:00Urban Poor 10K Walk, An Appeal for Floodway Proclamation<div align="center" class="MsoHeader" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 20.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Urban
Poor Associates</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy.
Central, Q.C. Telefax:
4264118 Tel.: 4264119 / 4267615<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ref: Princess Asuncion-Esponilla Mobile phone: 0908 1967450 </span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/</span></a></span><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
News Release</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
7 June 2014. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaxujhwHLi9nmoyz33b4flKuBAh6OO8VjsPNNja0_BKJhLN0QgUtjtJdVqy27gnWNq14BZKwH4S-67-E125CNwbbkh5LIwVa-aXUuZxyxCus07E3mD8pA2CNuI-78eYi0GGEx6bJskBQ/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaxujhwHLi9nmoyz33b4flKuBAh6OO8VjsPNNja0_BKJhLN0QgUtjtJdVqy27gnWNq14BZKwH4S-67-E125CNwbbkh5LIwVa-aXUuZxyxCus07E3mD8pA2CNuI-78eYi0GGEx6bJskBQ/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2000 urban poor joined today a 10 kilometer walk, to appeal to President Benigno Aquino III for a proclamation for land tenure security and socialized housing in the Floodway that will benefit 20,000 residents. The walk stretches from Taytay, Cainta to Pasig Floodway to stress that people has the right to live in the city. This is also a call to engage all affected families to demand from the government a just and humane response for safe and secure settlement of informal settlers families(ISF) living in floodway, Rizal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLIUyyVonQi3ESdmXZ0YSgyX6odUO7ouII6APVHAdXfp_-YhSICfbRtxppha4rO6lIQq4tufhJRQ8yFuUtxX0bbc4ZHXFIU0fxiiZtrhtnscYoEKvToyTmmULAiP9YXXEayU2G4vgY-k/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLIUyyVonQi3ESdmXZ0YSgyX6odUO7ouII6APVHAdXfp_-YhSICfbRtxppha4rO6lIQq4tufhJRQ8yFuUtxX0bbc4ZHXFIU0fxiiZtrhtnscYoEKvToyTmmULAiP9YXXEayU2G4vgY-k/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a>The 10k walk was initiated by Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Exodus Homeowners Association, Damayan Homeowners Association, Pag-asa Homeowners Association, Maharlika Homeowners Association and Alliance of People’s Organization Along Manggahan Pasig.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Urban poor along the stretch of floodway have long been a beneficiary of three Presidential Proclamations (PP) that aim to provide socialized housing. PP 458 and PP 704 were issued under President Fidel V. Ramos and PP1160 under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
PP 458 S. 1994 reserving portions of Embankment in Manggahan Floodway, PP 704 S. 1995 reserving a portion of public domain in Taytay, and PP 1160 s. 2006 reserving portions of the Berm slopes of East and West Floodway. These were later revoked by President Arroyo through an Executive Order 854 in 2009, shortly after Typhoon Ondoy without sufficient technical and legal basis. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7_8-H0dP7_Wr7wPqOVtGIS6ceJp18UXmw3tQn_7ZPN3KGCQ92GZlaXbNvCWzIvUtP1tNypJnyyTbKMAolS6xrPU_iG1gbg5KoHyCPcYLWcE7dwAAuhT7b0JHJ9KQKqE5vInNv2O6boI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7_8-H0dP7_Wr7wPqOVtGIS6ceJp18UXmw3tQn_7ZPN3KGCQ92GZlaXbNvCWzIvUtP1tNypJnyyTbKMAolS6xrPU_iG1gbg5KoHyCPcYLWcE7dwAAuhT7b0JHJ9KQKqE5vInNv2O6boI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a>Marlon Quirante, President of Exodus Homeowners Association Taytay, said, “We want President Aquino to lift EO 854 that totally revokes our rights for a decent housing. We have been crying for his help to implement socialized housing for families of floodway.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Quirante added, “We have even gathered 10,000 signatures to support our cause. We are hopeful that through our mass actions President Aquino will be guided to act with compassion to protect our housing rights.” </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
President Aquino signed a covenant with urban poor that set the legalization of settlement in Manggahan, Floodway. The covenant inspired the people of Floodway to develop a disaster-resilient community through a housing design suitable in the area of the Floodway.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In parting, Bella dela Rosa, President of Damayan Homeowners Association said, “We will do everything to push our on-site housing. In today’s walk, we also gave emphasis on the need to amend Urban Development and Housing Act (RA7279) to ensure that all poor people will have access to a law that serves poor people interests.”</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq28FVxIJOEARM5Olg8obvBIk3vPAluHVKXAceuI58UCmDPsZhqz9jOQEpbRCr0xyxqVRjddTyUnv4qhqiTf53vQJB6wD8tFNCdYgzoggd4lVbRGgU36ygHhXMfuF6BGOykac9RoWStkk/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq28FVxIJOEARM5Olg8obvBIk3vPAluHVKXAceuI58UCmDPsZhqz9jOQEpbRCr0xyxqVRjddTyUnv4qhqiTf53vQJB6wD8tFNCdYgzoggd4lVbRGgU36ygHhXMfuF6BGOykac9RoWStkk/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-30-</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-61364246946530360032014-05-30T01:25:00.000-07:002014-07-17T01:41:34.400-07:00UPA presentation to LOCOA Meeting<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz8RKblP40kYrkvZjjsTPY_DEfO8Dxu_4II3kKZvNYaBA4YBWQG1PS3_P0vFzQeiC-nmC_r13Rf8c2xg2gTtA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This video is the presentation of Urban Poor Associates
(UPA) to the Leaders and Organizers of Community Organization in Asia (LOCOA)
meeting on May 24, 2014 at Surabaya, Indonesia. It summarizes UPA work since it
began in 1992. </div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-9056732055889230982014-05-26T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-09T23:43:36.983-07:00A thorn in the flesh<div style="text-align: justify;">
Philippine Daily Inquirer</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Two fine priests were buried last May 17.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fr. John Schumacher was laid to rest in the Jesuit Novitiate, Novaliches. He lies near his mentor in Philippine history studies, Fr. Horacio dela Costa, and the gathered bones of the Spanish Jesuits who had actually known Jose Rizal and his contemporaries.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Vincentian Fr. Norberto “Bebot” Carcellar was buried in the lovely cemetery of the Daughters of Charity along the South Super Highway. The choir of the Payatas children sang at the funeral Mass. Father Bebot began his work in Payatas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Father John helped us understand Church-State matters in Manila in the decades immediately before and after the death of Jose Rizal and the Revolution against Spain. Father Bebot taught us the value of people’s savings in development work, not only as a way of gathering funds, but also as a means of organizing people and instilling pride and self-confidence in them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We can imagine the two priests outside the gates of heaven later that day. They are a funny pair. Father John is 6’4,” Father Bebot 5’7” or 5’8.” They wear the clothes they had worn regularly in the last years of their lives and not the vestments they were buried in. Father John wears his pajamas since he had been in the Jesuit infirmary at Ateneo for years; Father Bebot is in the plaid shirt, black windbreaker and denim pants he wore to construction sites, meetings and celebrations.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Father Bebot peeks through the gates and sees the poor have housing as good as anyone else, so he’s happy. Father John looks for Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini and the other people he has written about. An angel knows what Father John is after. “Most of the people you are looking for are with the Filipino group here, but some are still appealing their sentences. We don’t have many Filipino lawyers, so the process is slow,” the angel says. Then he sees Father John’s jaw drop and adds, “It’s only a joke, Father John. They got this far, so they’ll be all right. Just some small matters of belief.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We talk of our priests, but we know very little about their fears and sorrows. They suffer of course as any person does, but in addition the priesthood has its own sufferings. There is in every priest, I believe, what St. Paul called a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12: 7-9). He describes it: “It was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.” Scholars disagree on what the thorn was. They think it might be anything from a physical pain to a very obnoxious individual. St. Paul asked God three times to remove the thorn, but God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Loneliness and depression are such thorns.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jesuit friends tell me they have heard older Jesuits weeping because of loneliness. It’s disturbing to think of the old priests who should, we would judge, enjoy a peaceful old age, wracked with loneliness and depression instead. And there is no consolation. Such pain has driven younger priests to drink, or to seek love elsewhere. Loneliness can take the heart of flesh out of a priest.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In some places in the United States priests are ashamed to wear the Roman collar which identifies them as Catholic priests. So badly has the image of the priest fallen due to the pedophilia crisis in the Church that people now look on the priest with suspicion and even hostility.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the Philippines, bishops have taken money from politicians, and even specified the exact type of gifts they want. This troubles a good priest. He can wonder about the soundness of his Church. Is it all hype and propaganda like so many other institutions, or is it truly the One, Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of Jesus? A group of bishops acting so cravenly can erode a priest’s respect for the Church’s fidelity and bravery.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many priests today are saddened by the reluctance of the Church hierarchy to be more intensely involved in work for the poor, and the narrowing of income between rich and poor, and in the very straightforward struggle to save poor children from life in the slums.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If we appreciate the effort these priests must make just to hold together the tensions in their lives, we will all the more be amazed at their accomplishments. This country has had great priests from the first days of Spain down through the centuries, men of all nationalities who faithfully tried to serve the people that were given into their care. There have been rascals, but no group has done nearly as much as they have done for the good of the country.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Priests are not all easy to deal with. I offer these tips from my own experience:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
• Compliment them on their sermons and talks, even if you can’t remember what they actually said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
• Be patient with your priests. It’s not a normal life they have chosen to live.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
• Give them a thoughtful gift—a good novel or historical book, a bottle of good wine.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
• Get together with other parishioners and buy him a good TV. The Cubao Diocese used to have norms on the sort of TV a parish council should provide its priest.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
• Pray for him.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/74945/a-thorn-in-the-flesh#ixzz34DQVqh81 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook</div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-90051235318756703632014-05-17T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-09T23:56:11.198-07:00Hard truths on housing<div style="text-align: justify;">
Philippine Daily Inquirer</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Hard and unwelcome facts have put an end to many of the theories advanced to solve the land and housing problems of Metro Manila. History, like a good teacher, has examined our theories one by one over the last 50 years, and each time has sent us back to our desks to do better. We are all included in this learning process—the government, the United Nations, experts, nongovernment organizations, and the poor themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We keep trying. A new theory proposed by a small alliance of NGOs and people’s groups, for example, claims that there are three rock-hard truths on which we can build a successful housing program: 1) Rich and poor are meant to live together in the city; 2) all of us, rich and poor, must combine the elements of both urban and rural living in our lives; and 3) land is so crucial to a good housing solution that its distribution cannot be left in the hands of the market.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To appreciate this theory, we should go back 50 years and take a look at its precedents. In the mid-1960s the government and many housing groups believed that the best way to end the congestion and the increasing unattractiveness of Metro Manila—families living under bridges, for example, who, according to the government, discourage foreign investments—was to relocate poor families far from Manila. Some relocation sites were up to 100 kilometers away.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Land at that distance was cheap but there were no jobs, and some 30-40 percent of all relocated families returned to live in even poorer, more congested slums.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Near-city, in-city</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In 2010 President Aquino forbade distant relocation. If families must be moved, he ordered, they should go to near-city or in-city relocation sites. “Near-city” meant less than 30-40 km from Manila. The thinking here was that wage-earners would be able to commute to their old jobs in Manila from these sites and the problem of jobs would be solved. The bus fare to and from the near-city centers could be managed by wage-earners, it was thought. Most NGOs believed this was a good solution.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Four years later we are seeing that near-city relocation may not be the excellent solution we thought it might be. At a meeting on April 4 on hunger organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, mothers from near-city relocation sites wept as they told those present that they had no food for their children. They liked the sites and the houses, but as one woman said, “We can’t eat doors and windows.” The women’s stories were so heartbreaking that most of those present cried—government workers, NGO staff, and the poor themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The key finding is that a single salary of the type that relocated wage-earners can earn is not enough to support a family, especially if 20 percent goes to transport to and from Manila. The salaries they earn are very often below the minimum wage.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If the same family were living in the city, the wife could find part-time work—doing the laundry, for example—and the children could help out after school and on weekends. They could snatch at every opportunity for work that became available. This is not possible in a relocation camp where everyone is poor. Who can afford a laundry woman or a manicurist in such a place?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In summary, it looks as if the poor have to be relocated in the city, because that is where the work is. However, in-city relocation has proved to be very expensive, especially if we talk of multistory housing and the commercial cost of the land. It is very expensive and probably impossible to implement for a great number of families, as long as the market controls land prices, and we insist on total house construction.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There is a need to find a way to control the distribution of land, so that large areas can be set aside for free or at very low prices for the poor. And we have to concentrate on one-story incremental construction.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One way to control land prices may be to choose a person of unchallenged integrity and competence to make these decisions. He/she would be independent of the government and private companies. In the aftermath of huge oil spills in the United States, a man was chosen with the consent of the oil company, the government and private claimants to make all decisions on damage awards. His decisions were final. The scope of such a person’s work here in Metro Manila can be limited to lands suitable for housing poor people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Side by side</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rich and poor seem fated to live side by side. In truth they need each other. We are one nation, and one people in God’s eyes. Pope Francis’ recent pastoral letter, “The Joy of the Gospel,” says we must learn from the poor about the mysteries of life (#198). How can this happen if we live 50 km apart? The poor can find jobs with the well-off as laundry women, manicurists, and gardeners. And is there a man so locked into his wealth that he cannot enjoy watching poor children play?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Also, we must combine in our lives elements of rural and urban living. Vegetable gardening is becoming very popular in urban poor areas. People love to see plants grow. People first put up mangroves to protect themselves, and then have fallen in love with them. They raise ducks in the mangroves. There is a growing suspicion of a city which is all condos, concrete, overpasses, tunnels, bus stations and malls. There is a growing longing by citizens for trees, shade, parks, gardens, fountains.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some 300 poor women in Tacloban farm a hectare together. The women work happily side by side. The day is coming when the rich will build playgrounds where their children and poor children can play together and become “best friends forever” (as in the play “Maryosep” produced by Peta last year, which had rich and poor children playing together and becoming lasting friends).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Rich people get away to the countryside on weekends and whenever else they can. They are aware of the need for some time with nature. They would most likely cooperate with efforts to reintroduce the rural into our cities. Trees, flowers and parks are democratic in their very beings: They look good and smell good and are restful to all, rich and poor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We found in the near-city relocation experiment that low salaries and unemployment limit the housing solutions available. For the near future we must plan for poor people. Our plans must work for the poor. Planning is for the poor; they are not required to fit into plans made for better-off people. “The Sabbath is made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All these need the criticism of others and practical efforts at implementing the theory. Who will bell the cat?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/74588/hard-truths-on-housing#ixzz34DTVsNUh </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook</div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-7524215992114484812014-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-09T23:59:09.476-07:00An Irish mother<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Philippine Daily Inquirer</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
All mothers are the same in most ways. Up close, however, they are also all different: God doesn’t create any two things exactly alike. Irish mothers may not be for everyone. They spoil their boys and make a pact of solidarity with their girls, that is, like a stance of “we women against the unthinking world.” They give their children lifelong, unbreakable loyalties—in my mother’s case, to a United Ireland, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that she knew in the 1920s, and the Catholic Church. Injustice must never be forgotten, even in hell. At the same time, like the Irish men, they are storytellers; you never know if what they tell you is completely true, or has just a grain of truth, or is totally imagined.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
My mother and the other boys and girls of her time in the villages of Ireland at the dawn of the 20th century could only go to the fourth year of elementary school. They loved school and the young women who came over from England to teach them. Those teachers were the only English people I ever heard my mother speak well of. (Classes beyond the fourth grade were in the towns and were too expensive.) Later in life, in a much different context, she praised the British army’s sergeants. She told me the IRA would have been more effective if it had some English sergeants.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
My mother rarely talked of their farm work. They moved hay, I know, and managed donkeys which they named after English politicians. Life seems to have begun for them when the IRA battled the British army in the early 1920s in the first colonial uprising against the mighty British Empire. Her brothers were jailed; their house was ransacked by the soldiers looking for guns.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
When she was already an old woman, my mother told me she once followed, for three days, an Irishman working for the English government, and then gave all the information she had gathered about the man’s daily schedule to the local IRA commander. She was still in her teens then, the IRA man in his early twenties. The Irish man she followed was shot as he came out of his home the next morning as his wife looked on. We were walking slowly around Riverdale in New York City as she told me that story, admiring the houses and gardens. “It was a house like that,” she said pointing to a trim little house almost hidden behind bushes. “We were too young. We had no right to kill that man,” she said.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
She never really ended her war with the English. Years later she would buy a more expensive sweater made in Ireland rather than a cheaper and better quality sweater made in England.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
When “the troubles” ended, she went to New York with my father who promised he would go with her any place in the world she wanted to go. That’s the kind of talk any woman likes. They lived on East 21st Street in Manhattan, which is now a well-off area but was far from that in the 1920s, when the Third Avenue EL ran past the tenements and there was an Irish bar on every corner. I was born and another boy, and then we moved from the drama of old New York to the Bronx that had only Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo to recommend it. They were more than enough of course for young boys.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div id="inread1_26817" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="inread_26817" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; height: 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr id="zd_tr_26817" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td id="zd_td_26817" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<div id="zd_newid_26817" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
There were four children when my father died and my mother began another long guerrilla war, this time with the NYC Welfare Department. We were lucky. The Welfare workers were the same type of polite Protestant ladies who had taught her in Ireland; but there were many things they didn’t have to know, including the presence of her brother who lived with us and helped financially. Luckily we had a long hallway in our apartment. Whoever answered the doorbell and found the Welfare lady standing there was to call back into the apartment, “It’s the Welfare lady.” The long hallway gave my uncle time to hide in the closet, while my mother walked slowly to the door to greet her guest and bring her into the apartment.</div>
<div id="zd_newid_26817" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
My mother had a deep personal belief in the Blessed Mother. I think she believed that only Mary really understood her problems. It was part of the solidarity she saw among women.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Two of her sons became Jesuit priests, the only girl became a Sister of Charity, and the third boy became a US Marine who fought in Korea and raised a lovely family.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
My mother and the other Irish immigrants were all democrats. Franklin D. Roosevelt was their hero, until on the eve of World War II, he drew close to Britain. He never lost their vote, however.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
I was sent to the Philippines as a Jesuit missionary. After I had been here 10 years or so, I asked her where she thought the country was. “Down here Cuba,” she told me. There were things that mattered in life and things that didn’t.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
She recited an old poem when her turn to sing or perform came during family parties. The poem is about a person returning to Ireland after a long absence. As the ship draws close to the Irish coast, she sees the dawn break on the hills of Ireland. You could literally hear a pin drop as she recited.</div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates [urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com].</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Read more: <a href="http://opinion.inquirer.net/74432/an-irish-mother#ixzz34DWEaqWP" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #003399; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://opinion.inquirer.net/74432/an-irish-mother#ixzz34DWEaqWP</a> </div>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
Follow us: <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@inquirerdotnet on Twitter</a> | <a href="http://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnet" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">inquirerdotnet on Facebook</a></div>
</span></span>Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-31448294772048673542014-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-09T23:13:45.088-07:00New and old wineskins<div style="text-align: justify;">
Philippine Daily Inquirer</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
April 30 was World Disaster Day. It was a day to which most Filipinos paid little attention, believing they already knew more than enough about disasters. Yes, we may know much, especially about the human suffering involved in disasters, but there are other aspects of the phenomenon we know little about, unless we are directly involved in the reconstruction.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
From the beginning, for instance, there has been serious criticism of the manner in which the government has responded to disaster victims’ needs. For example, according to a recent Oxfam Briefing Paper on permanent relocation, 81 percent of the people interviewed “stated they are not aware of their rights regarding permanent relocation,” and only 7 percent of those interviewed said “they had been consulted by a government official at the barangay, municipal or national level about the relocation process.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sharing of information and consultation are the first steps in relocation demanded by law.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The government’s reluctance to talk to poor people can easily translate to actual mini-disasters in which people are brought to areas where there is no food, no jobs, no land tenure security.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some people who work with the survivors of “Yolanda” believe that serious reconstruction problems can be explained by Jesus’ words, “Do not pour new wine into old wineskins” (Mark 2:22). The new wine will burst the old wineskins, and the wine will be lost. The Philippines has attempted to pour the vast, unprecedented chaos created by Yolanda, the strongest storm in recorded history, into the old wineskins of our present laws and government apparatuses, expecting a good resolution. Despite the heroism of many people, the government in the most seriously affected provinces was overwhelmed. The wineskins were saved from bursting by aid from the rest of the country and from overseas. At best, it is bare survival.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We need new wineskins that focus the attention of our elected officials on the needs of the people, and not on the next election or other personal goals. There should be a provision for the appointment of new people who will have the power to cut through the red tape and rivalries that delay relocation and job creation. There should also be room for special provisions in law that will guarantee that poor people are treated fairly and are involved in decision-making in matters that affect their lives.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the elected officials, the new wineskins can take the form of a change in their terms of office. Once a disaster is declared, the elected officials of the area involved will have five years added to their terms, during which they will not have to worry about elections. At the end of the five years, they must step down and stay out of politics for some time, for two years perhaps. They will be awarded a generous lifetime annual bonus, provided the people they represent vote in favor of their receiving the bonus for their good work during the reconstruction period. If they do not get the people’s vote, they cannot run for office again. Such steps, or similar steps, can help direct an official’s activities to the great work at hand and away from personal gain.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We need, as previously said, persons appointed to make the final decisions in all land disputes. And we need a person in each affected province to look after the needs of the poor. These persons will have the authority to remove people from office who do not treat the poor justly and effectively.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
These suggestions may not be completely feasible, but at least they point to the need and possible nature of the new wineskins.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
James C. Scott writes in his “Two Cheers for Anarchism”: “Perhaps the greatest failure of liberal democracies is their historical failure to successfully protect the vital economic and security interests of their less advantaged citizens through their institutions.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The people of Eastern Visayas, where we work, prove those words: They had always been poor—50 percent lived below the official poverty line before Yolanda—and they are poorer now, having lost homes, jobs and loved ones. They will become still poorer unless the government does a better job of helping them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We suggest that early on in the reconstruction work, the President meet with representatives of all sectors of people, province by province, and spell out in some detail what the reconstruction hopes to accomplish. Will the end result, for example, include land reform? What are the nourishment goals for the children? What jobs will be restored or created so each family will have an adequate income? Will the schools be improved, and how?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I believe the people would welcome such a meeting with the President.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In a way, disasters are a chance to begin over and, as the slogan says, “build back better.” Most importantly, we need people who will work with the poor. We need people who will talk with the poor, visit them, find out what they want, and help them as best we can to come together and organize. This would seem to be work that comes very naturally to the churches, especially the Church of Pope Francis.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is good to have legal steps in place in the hope that we can, in that way, improve reconstruction work. But it is more important to create in our people a “fire in the belly” passion for justice and a better life for all.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/74338/new-and-old-wineskins#ixzz34DJ3O4Et </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook</div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-89028799540008519202014-05-05T00:13:00.000-07:002014-05-05T00:17:49.931-07:00Umbrella Walk for UDHA Amendment <div align="center" class="MsoHeader" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 20.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Urban Poor Associates</span></b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy.
Central, Q.C. Telefax:
4264118 Tel.: 4264119 / 4267615<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ref: Princess Asuncion-Esponilla Mobile phone: 0908 1967450 </span></u><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/</span></a></span><u><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">**
NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE1av4G7S1zMMnv7f2v_g2o9Dp6D3ol04l60deOKIWAc9IFb6jcJaogBZVgtwWwUgG3L1yfrSH021tu7KJ6MJeni9JGCxUA55qRJdxi8BYQG8nL2tNPKPi1D5cJ-tqsCGrW0HuSAg3eI/s1600/DSC07819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE1av4G7S1zMMnv7f2v_g2o9Dp6D3ol04l60deOKIWAc9IFb6jcJaogBZVgtwWwUgG3L1yfrSH021tu7KJ6MJeni9JGCxUA55qRJdxi8BYQG8nL2tNPKPi1D5cJ-tqsCGrW0HuSAg3eI/s1600/DSC07819.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
TFUA umbrella walk calling for UDHA Amendments at Congress.</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">05 May 2014. Task Force UDHA Amendments composed of Urban Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies Inc (Philssa), Peoples Alternative Study Center for Research and Education in Social Development (Pascres) and various people’s organizations from different cities gathered today in front of congres, senate and other places to push further their call to amend UDHA.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtHdV7IjP1vLH3DqckMqkDw9256oYAbrWHPFeyen6bpMkMOb5FU3a1LNXBNrYxD7pdhi0w1kqyeu5nEFB5cpkUl859OYy0OSjr0Nq_Hcj-73z9c9GzircfPM_LFJcUe3s3ilPNEOePYQ/s1600/DSC07810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtHdV7IjP1vLH3DqckMqkDw9256oYAbrWHPFeyen6bpMkMOb5FU3a1LNXBNrYxD7pdhi0w1kqyeu5nEFB5cpkUl859OYy0OSjr0Nq_Hcj-73z9c9GzircfPM_LFJcUe3s3ilPNEOePYQ/s1600/DSC07810.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Urban poor groups brought with them umbrella labeled “Amend UDHA Now! Promote Housing </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rights!” The mobilization is a peaceful rally reminding the legislatures that the poor are closely monitoring all developments under housing and urban development.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celia Santos, UPA UDHA Advocacy Officer said, “Umbrella is a symbol of shelter for most of us. It keeps us dry from rain and keeps us from too much heat. Our urban poor advocates wanted a constant reminder that they are bent in pushing UDHA amendments and they thought that there is no other best way but to use their umbrellas labeled with phrases of support UDHA amendments. This umbrella is their walking advertisement to the public to join them with their endeavor.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The proposed amendments filed by COOP NATCCO party list Rep. Cresente Paez and Camarines Sur Rep. Leonor Robredo House Bill 2791 and Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, Senate Bill 1874 will ensure that the rights of the poor for decent housing will be given a priority.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This bills aims to further secure the urban poor from eviction and demolition of their homes and from relocating them in distant places lacking basic services and livelihood opportunities, thus clarifying the definition of “resettlement areas” that it must be within and/or near city areas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also calls for proper technical study and public consultation before declaring areas as danger zone/high risk area.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This measure will mandate government to set-up a Socialized Housing Commission with quasi-judicial power and authority with all issues arising from the implementation of UDHA law.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQEuEKVyqZFMaCRZhSUyBIxpFeFdVvEQH-M040uELU7pvV8BaDvDQ2bgPJ6m3hj90KWD1-EJlvuJ19lWvgFNzUGvkg_foK4UZ8fow_2h3WsklVChCwLzDDdvoX1OTzwZe5f-1LPjAIcc/s1600/DSC07790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQEuEKVyqZFMaCRZhSUyBIxpFeFdVvEQH-M040uELU7pvV8BaDvDQ2bgPJ6m3hj90KWD1-EJlvuJ19lWvgFNzUGvkg_foK4UZ8fow_2h3WsklVChCwLzDDdvoX1OTzwZe5f-1LPjAIcc/s1600/DSC07790.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marlon Quirante, President Exodus Homeowners Association , “For the past nine years that we have been pushing for the amendments, this is by far the most number of supports we had from the law makers. The implementation of on-site and near-city resettlement was also given priority. We are also hopeful that our people’s plan for on-site housing in Taytay, Binondo and Caloocan will be granted. We believe that through our proposed UDHA amendments we will secure that poverty alleviation and risk mitigation can be achieved by implementing socialized housings that agreeable among the government and poor people affected. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Santos concluded, “We urge committees to continue to hold hearings as it move forward having the law amended.”</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-30-</span></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4-MzVLD9hY2c7Ild_kfR1EEGutCSeiMuyocaB4J3DHv58gpuhgqrsF4JaHZAXKpeRgRm0GfjqHuhl9witdvgcBoIfvkdhQKn_dnV0yiigy2j8f2xCUdlE5CJl794FHrweCT6dhOAP-s/s1600/DSC07843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4-MzVLD9hY2c7Ild_kfR1EEGutCSeiMuyocaB4J3DHv58gpuhgqrsF4JaHZAXKpeRgRm0GfjqHuhl9witdvgcBoIfvkdhQKn_dnV0yiigy2j8f2xCUdlE5CJl794FHrweCT6dhOAP-s/s1600/DSC07843.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-31486166524997866742014-05-02T02:26:00.000-07:002014-05-14T02:28:02.900-07:00Forgotten Pope<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Commentary</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">By Denis Murphy</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">While Popes John XXIII and John Paul II were being canonized in St. Peter’s Square last April 27, before what some estimate as the largest crowd gathered in Europe for a religious purpose in living memory, Pope Paul VI rested in his quiet dark tomb under the high altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. A million people cheered the new saints. Few people remembered Paul VI. I don’t think he would have been surprised. He was never very good at handling public relations and the media.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">He was a thin, sensitive, very thoughtful man. One person described him as a man of “infinite courtesy.” If John XXIII can be said to have brought the Church into the modern world, Paul VI can be said to have brought the poor of the world into the Church.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">There is little talk of poverty or the poor in the Vatican II documents. It is with Paul VI’s approval after the Second Vatican Council that churches around the world began to give special attention to the poor. Latin America led in this matter, and in the late 1960s and 1970s developed an understanding of the Church as the “Church of the Poor” and of “God’s preferential option for the poor,” and the theology of liberation that supported this thinking. His encyclicals were nearly all on social matters. He championed land reform, the right of poor people to revolt, the obligation of the rich countries to help the poor countries. In these letters he followed the methodology of the Council—that is, he began with the problems as they appeared on the ground and found in them “the signs of the times” that gave believers the sense of direction in which they should move.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Paul VI became pope on the death of John XXIII in 1963 and died in 1978. He was succeeded briefly by John Paul I and then by John Paul II.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">He issued one letter, “Humanae Vitae” on birth control, that may be the most unpopular letter written by a pope in modern times.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">He was called indecisive and a papal Hamlet. Maybe he was such, but for the poor and for priests and bishops in trouble he was a person of warm compassion—and that is a side of him few people know.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">In the 1970s-1980s Bishop Julio Labayen of the Prelature of Infanta was sometimes in trouble with the government and even with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for his criticism of martial law. He was troubled deeply by this, especially by the charge made by some other bishops that he had no loyalty to the Church. For anyone who knows Bishop Labayen, this was clearly absolute nonsense, but still it pained him. He was able to meet Pope Paul VI and they had a long talk about these matters, and at the end Bishop Labayen told friends: “At the heart of the Church I found a warm and welcoming father.”</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Bishop Daniel Tji of South Korea, who also had troubles with his government and had spent time in jail, told me he had the same experience as Bishop Labayen had. He stopped talking after he said this, nodding slowly with a smile on his face as if he remembered once again his time with Paul VI.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">My own experience with Paul VI was in Tondo, Manila, on a Sunday afternoon in early November 1970. The pope was here for the start of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences. He arrived at the Don Bosco Center in Barrio Magsaysay and soon was sitting on what looked like a very shaky speaker stand with Cardinal Rufino Santos and Trinidad “Trining” Herrera, president of the Zone One Tondo Organization or Zoto, the first of many mass-based, democratic and nonviolent people’s organizations that would spring up in the Philippine slums during martial law. Trining greeted the pope in the name of the people of Tondo. This was, we were told, the first time a local leader had greeted a pope on such an occasion.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">After greetings in Latin, which few people understood even after they were translated into Tagalog, Paul VI walked through Barrio Magsaysay’s muddy streets (it was just after </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Typhoon “Yoling”) to visit the home of a typical poor family; it was as poor as the families around it. The pope spent more time with the family than he was supposed to spend, and I could hear calls on the police radios around me asking what was wrong. They were beginning to get nervous.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Finally the pope came back. He was deeply shaken by what he had seen and heard. He didn’t say anything, but held on to the hand of a Franciscan Missionary of Mary sister to steady himself. I was next to the sister. He looked stricken in a way: He had seen how his poor people lived in squalor and how the lovely children were fated to be as poor as their parents.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Paul VI was the first pope to travel outside Italy. He traveled to places as different as India, the Holy Land, and New York City. He packed the Yankee Stadium. The Yankee players showed him the uniform of their all-star catcher who had died shortly before the pope’s visit. He told the United Nations: “No more war. War never again.”</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">I hope that in the future Pope Paul VI is canonized. There must be room in heaven for indecisive people. We can’t all have magical charisma or good luck in one’s life.</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-54880497304409847732014-04-17T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-09T23:03:21.489-07:00Lamentation for Manila 2014<div style="text-align: justify;">
Philippine Daily Inquirer</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Situated just after the prophecies of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, the Book of Lamentations tells of the terrible destruction and sorrow in Jerusalem after the city was conquered by the Babylonians, and the Jewish leaders taken into captivity in 586-520 BC. God had punished the city for its sins of idolatry and injustice. The Book also tells us of the people’s indomitable belief that God would forgive and gather them from the corners of the earth to begin anew with Him in friendship and love.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lamentations were sung years ago in the Jesuit Novitiate of New York in the evenings of the Holy Week. The haunting and beautiful words and music can stay with a person all his life. The Lamentation that follows for Manila begins with the Lord walking along the R-10 road in Tondo in the early evening, as He once walked in the Garden of Eden. In Eden He found that Adam had sinned. In Manila the Lord finds that His plans for the Philippines have suffered serious setbacks.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lord walks slowly along R-10, past the piers where already, girl prostitutes wait for customers. They are hardly more than children. They may have sex in the back of a dump truck. He sees the slums of Parola and Slip Zero where His children live in unimaginable squalor, packed in at almost 1,000 families per hectare. He groans, as Jesus did at the graveside of Lazarus. If we who are evil know how to grieve for our children, how much more will the Lord know how to grieve for all His children? (paraphrase of Luke 11:13)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pope John Paul II once wrote: “Anyone who has to live in a slum through no fault of their own is a victim of injustice.” These poor people of the slums have been wronged. Society must, in recognition of their right to justice, provide much better housing. The Lord, however, sees little love of justice, and even less love of the poor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lord is clearly disappointed in what He sees. He chose the Philippines out of all the countries of the vast Asian continent to be Christian. He hoped, as He did with the Jewish people, that the country would be a “Light to the Gentiles,” that all of Asia would see peace, justice and solidarity flowering in these islands and be drawn closer to Him. The Philippines has rejected this vocation of a missionary nation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It has also rejected God’s call to care for the poor. The Philippines is perhaps no worse than other countries in Asia in its treatment of the poor, but it is no better, despite the example of the “preferential love of the poor” that He exhibits in the Old and New Testaments. In Tondo the children go to school hungry, too hungry to learn very much, and end up prepared only for a life of poverty. The income gap between rich and poor widens every year. During the Holy Week, small groups of poor women chant the Pasyon. It is the dirge of the poor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lord walks among the shacks of Parola and Ulingan, hears the children coughing from deep in their chests, unable to sleep. He hears men and women arguing and fighting. He sees the open drains full of human waste, and He wonders about His well-off sons and daughters who have allowed such a display of inhumanity to fester. He sees the rubber tubing that carries the people’s drinking water as it coils through the mud of the alleys and the filth in the drains. The Lord gave Filipinos a lovely land, and they have turned it into a place of punishment for the poor. I wanted you for My own people. I had such hopes for you, and look what has happened, the Lord reflects.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lord walks in the stillness of Forbes Park, where the only other people walking are the armed guards. On the half-hectare lots of the rich there is still land enough to accommodate 10-15 poor families. It seems clear, however, that the well-off people aren’t aware of how ugly such a disparity is in the eyes of the Lord. Doesn’t My Church talk about these matters? the Lord wonders.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Do the rich think that the Lord tolerates such injustice among His children? If the rich were a structure of stone and steel, He would tear it all down and begin over.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Lord remembers the unbreakable faith of the people of ancient Jerusalem that their suffering would end and the Lord would restore them to His care. Their poignant faith and trust in God saved the Jewish people. He looks for signs of such faith in Manila. He says to us: “Fear not, I am with you. Be not dismayed, I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, and uphold you with My right hand of justice.” (Is. 41:10)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/73708/lamentation-for-manila-2014#ixzz34DHRHLF0 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook</div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-13843871263784410762014-04-11T00:00:00.000-07:002014-06-09T22:55:07.383-07:00Palm Sunday invasionPhilippine Daily Inquirer<br />
Commentary<br />
by Denis Murphy<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Palm Sunday, people are likely to think of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, or of their sins, perhaps in preparation for Holy Week. Instead, I remember the great invasion of the Department of Public Works and Highways compound in Parola, Tondo, by the Zone One Tondo Organization (Zoto) on Palm Sunday 1972. Jesus and his followers entered Jerusalem, and the poor people of Tondo entered the DPWH compound. Both were peaceful events, and a delight to the poor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Zone One was the southernmost third of the untitled stretch of land along the piers known as the Tondo Foreshore Area. Zoto, the people’s organization born there with the help of a group called the Philippine Ecumenical Committee for Community Organization, or Pecco, was the first of the many mass-based, democratic and nonviolent poor people’s organizations to rise in urban poor areas. Zoto’s main task was to oppose then President Ferdinand Marcos’ plan to evict all 180,000 people living in the Tondo Foreshore Area and replace them and their dwellings with a business center, upscale housing, hotels and casinos. Zoto sought the people’s power, which in this instance meant the ability to negotiate with the government as an equal on the matter of the Tondo Foreshore Area, because it involved their homes, jobs and children’s future.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Zoto area was the very crowded home of some 10,000 families. Zoto was a very frisky organization, and for some time had cast envious eyes on the large and empty DPWH compound in what is now Parola. On Palm Sunday Zoto mounted an invasion. We had read of land invasions in Latin America by people like John Turner; Zoto thought that whatever Latin Americans could do, Filipinos could do better.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When the day broke, thousands of poor people lined up at the gates of the compound carrying palm branches, hammers, saws, pieces of roofing, and lumber. It was a religious procession as well as social action. The guards left when they saw the huge crowd.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The people opened the gates and in we walked in a procession, singing hymns and waving our palm branches. I was one of the two “officiating” priests. We blessed everything with holy water—the people, the wood and GI roofing that the people carried, the land, even the cats and dogs. I believe we felt some of the excitement that the Jewish people felt while crossing the Jordan River and entering the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The people shook their palm branches as they do in church, making the sound of a great rush of wind. Hundreds of children ran alongside the marchers. We began with a Mass, and then construction started.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Those in charge of the invasion had a subdivision plan, a people’s plan, which they implemented. Each family got 32 square meters. They had two weeks to build, or the land would be given to some other needy family. The roads were five meters wide. There were a basketball court, a chapel area, and a place for a community center.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The families began building. The area was named Bonifacio Village, after the national hero who was born in Tondo, not very far from the invaded land. About 500 families moved in, I think, but I am not sure.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It turned out to be a very peaceful, well-run and tidy community in the years that followed. There were all types of ideologies in the Zoto area in those years. For some, Bonifacio Village was the first commune; for others, it was the first free zone of peace; for yet others, it was the beginning of a large Basic Christian Community.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In 1980 the people of Bonifacio Village transferred to the Dagat-Dagatan relocation area just north of Tondo. Each family received 96 square meters and a core house at a cost of P96 per month. The Parola land stood empty until President Cory Aquino came to power, and the rumor went around that all empty lands in Manila were up for the taking. Soon, the area called Bonifacio Village was packed with new groups of urban poor people, more people than ever before. It is now a crowded place of decent people trapped in near-subhuman housing conditions.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The people of Zoto built Bonifacio Village with no substantial help from the government or nongovernment organizations. They believe that if the government allows them to develop their communities as they think best, and only intervenes when they ask for help, they can solve our housing problems in a few years. The government must provide the land. If the government doesn’t provide land, I wouldn’t be surprised if the people start invading idle land.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is the only large-scale urban invasion I know of. It seems the poor were more adventurous in the early 1970s than in the succeeding years. As the succeeding administrations, beginning with Cory Aquino’s, became friendlier, the people were more given to dialogue and negotiation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some say poor people’s organizations have been largely domesticated. It may be a necessary step in a maturing relationship between the poor and the state, but we miss the spirit and liveliness of the old days.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Read more: http://opinion.inquirer.net/73513/palm-sunday-invasion#ixzz34DFbREeS<br />
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on FacebookUrban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-13028452920690515852014-03-24T00:43:00.000-07:002014-03-26T00:45:57.403-07:00The bishops and poverty<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
by Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
People who are engaged in work with the poor were happy that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines devoted its Lenten message to the subject of poverty under the title “Poverty that Dehumanizes, Poverty that Sanctifies.” The bishops are inviting people to reflect on poverty following the lead of Pope Francis, whose own Lenten message takes its inspiration from St. Paul writing about Jesus Christ: “He became poor, so that by his poverty you may become rich.” (2 Cor 8-9)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are many things to admire in the CBCP letter, but the reference to the Pope’s letter invites us to compare it with his writings. When we do, some differences are apparent. The Pope’s writings, especially “The Joy of the Gospel” (his encyclical “Evangelii Gaudium”), leave no doubt in the reader’s mind that a flesh-and-blood person with a passion for the poor and a good knowledge of the world of the poor is writing. On the other hand, our CBCP letter—let us be honest—is austere to a fault. This lack of attention to style, passion and joy is surprising in a Church that has had artists like Palestrina and Mozart enrich its Masses and writers like St. Augustine and Cardinal Newman explain its mysteries. Not by concepts alone does man (or woman) live, but by all the forces of their beings—emotion, compassion, energy, poetry, clear thinking and excitement.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The bishops single out in their message a specific problem for criticism, which is the current practice of privatizing and relocating public hospitals. “The poor, who can avail [themselves] of health care at only public hospitals and local government health centers, are at risk of being further excluded from access to basic health care with the proposed privatization of leading public health institutions such as the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and the National Orthopedic Hospital. Especially vulnerable are children and the elderly, unless government continues to aspire for the ideal of ‘universal health coverage.’”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We can add to the bishops’ list of affected hospitals the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), which, in the plan of the current lords of the North Triangle—Ayala Land, the National Housing Authority, and the Quezon City government—is about to be privatized and moved to the Lung Center compound. The PCMC and the Manila Seedling Bank alongside it are the latest institutions to be removed by the lords in what looks like a march to control the entire North Triangle for themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On Feb 20 Fr. Robert Reyes led a protest march against this plan, along with the PCMC doctors and nurses and the Seedling Bank workers. Father Robert and the doctors who spoke at the rally said the plan would seriously harm the treatment that poor children receive. They protested the proposed relocation of the PCMC to the Lung Center compound. Indeed, it is hard to imagine any place more unsuitable for sick children than a lung hospital. The government would be wise to listen to its professionals who are willing to march for what they believe is good for their patients, and to men of God, including the bishops and Father Robert.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The speakers raised related issues, such as how much land should one company be allowed to control. Ayala Land is already partnered with NHA and Quezon City in Trinoma and Vertis North, and now they seek the land of the Seedling Bank and the PCMC. What limit on land must society set to ensure that the common good is maintained?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thus, the problem of privatizing public hospitals leads to questions about the ownership and use of land in our cities, which in turn lead to economic questions of inequality of income and joblessness and political questions on democracy’s viability in a nation of many poor and few very rich. When you reach down into the burrow and catch hold of the tail of any of these problems, you end up pulling the whole tangled mess into the daylight.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If there are no controls or limits on land use, we can end up in a city of malls, condos, movie houses and supermarkets owned by a handful of very rich men. We will sadly lack seed banks, playing fields, places for old people to sit and watch children play, trees, quiet shady places for children’s hospitals, open-air art galleries, and housing for poor people. The same men or class of men will own the hospitals, public utilities, and even some mayors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
An excellent article in this paper by Kenneth Cardenas (“Cash-crop condominiums,” Talk of the Town, 2/16/14) explains how our problems, such as the eviction of poor people and hospitals, joblessness, land monopolies, disregard of urban planning and the common good are interconnected. At the center of the problems are the large real estate groups, including the Ayalas, SM, Robinsons and Eton Properties.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The problems are all connected, so we can start anywhere to unravel and solve them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Why don’t we join the bishops in an effort to end the privatization of hospitals? If the bishops decide to act on their position on privatization, they will find many groups willing to work with them, especially, I believe, the urban poor, who need the public hospitals for health services.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If the bishops have a plan, they can invite various groups to join them, including the poor. If they plan a large mass, a rally, or a march, the poor will be happy to join. Actually, the bishops themselves don’t have to formulate a plan; they can leave that to others. They will have done a great deal by identifying a problem and gathering people to solve it. It’s probably better if the bishops don’t make the plan.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Such teamwork may carry over into future efforts. The lived experience of working with the poor may add to the bishops’ writings on poverty the passion and joy that are sometimes missing in their pastoral statements.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-78685475344237734432014-03-20T20:18:00.002-07:002014-03-20T20:57:55.703-07:00Aid for Taclobanon Families in Tents<div align="center" class="MsoHeader" style="tab-stops: .5in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Sherwood; font-size: 20.0pt; letter-spacing: -1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Urban Poor Associates</span></b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy.
Central, Q.C. Telefax:
4264118 Tel.: 4264119 / 4267615<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ref: Princess Asuncion-Esponilla Mobile phone: 0908 1967450 </span></u><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: black;">http://urbanpoorassociates.blogspot.com/</span></a></span><u><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">**
NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbwSFk4HAYFDMSEwWyLrRyCE-nNhwxIX7oUB7eQXAYc6RLR8HjavgRfLWctba2DQBYgIXwuYkWsNEvD1D5xvcQkTRJ8qFfcclemEm_TBWfJKIkV2Oj5mf-mROP3BYYLiS6r7sltdWFFw/s1600/photo+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbwSFk4HAYFDMSEwWyLrRyCE-nNhwxIX7oUB7eQXAYc6RLR8HjavgRfLWctba2DQBYgIXwuYkWsNEvD1D5xvcQkTRJ8qFfcclemEm_TBWfJKIkV2Oj5mf-mROP3BYYLiS6r7sltdWFFw/s1600/photo+6.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Distribution of Plywood Floorings at San Jose District, Tacloban City)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWAARKySywuQpCizhKQygYaM9Yhwiig8zv5hat6miJK_6VYucJUjABHs4Wfs8qHuu7SASrMtcKYyprr1XbYiBf5oL8F7Z29StfgL75GuFadIROnEP4nXDz9pt6vSeJ8zBD3rn0eKYfKY/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWAARKySywuQpCizhKQygYaM9Yhwiig8zv5hat6miJK_6VYucJUjABHs4Wfs8qHuu7SASrMtcKYyprr1XbYiBf5oL8F7Z29StfgL75GuFadIROnEP4nXDz9pt6vSeJ8zBD3rn0eKYfKY/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">20 March 2014. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Urban Poor Associates (UPA)
together with Christian Aid provided 1000 families in 738 tents from Barangay
88, 89 and 90, San Jose District, Tacloban City of plywood floorings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Yolanda survivors in queue </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">for their plywood floorings)</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgzfHJuxpLttjFLdWVFCKgEDIGOm3DWQs5kk4-YwpRkRBbvPU-mfwXt9qNZAbc0ohfKBBq7M_9l_1xbDX04L-sKV5PLyqju0tMhnBW_dGFO8gWo4QMAl-bWrCFkwlWJcLKUSh74HdYeg/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidgzfHJuxpLttjFLdWVFCKgEDIGOm3DWQs5kk4-YwpRkRBbvPU-mfwXt9qNZAbc0ohfKBBq7M_9l_1xbDX04L-sKV5PLyqju0tMhnBW_dGFO8gWo4QMAl-bWrCFkwlWJcLKUSh74HdYeg/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Each
family will be given four pieces of marine plywood of ¾ inch thick and with a
length of 4x8 feet to use for their floorings while their relocation is still
unidentified. The fishermen who received the boats played a big part in
distributing the plywood in a spirit of Bayanihan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">(Fishermen who were given boats by the Holy Spirit Sisters</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">Assisted in the distribution of plywood.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">UPA,
an NGO that advocates housing rights, had been helping organize communities in
Barangay 88, 89 and 90 San Jose to help and respond with their needs. Since January,
several big meetings were held in the area together with the residents to find out
what is the life of people after Yolanda. Many of them suffered in tents
because of continuous rains, children were catching asthma and old people were
complaining of colds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrnxRbTWIKahLQZwqM_0vcZaHUQZ3Y36bvCdirKNRZSHB9W-EbX6-Zm7rd4n0I6zVG7JrR7kpDYQmgRyiOvUBP2M9rba5O-UIUHKZb52T0FLBYPfM6U00QJunqsAQ9H3pvVSDtRSLMYw/s1600/photo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrnxRbTWIKahLQZwqM_0vcZaHUQZ3Y36bvCdirKNRZSHB9W-EbX6-Zm7rd4n0I6zVG7JrR7kpDYQmgRyiOvUBP2M9rba5O-UIUHKZb52T0FLBYPfM6U00QJunqsAQ9H3pvVSDtRSLMYw/s1600/photo+7.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Alicia
Murphy, UPA Field Director said, “We first introduced the plywood flooring for
about three families. We saw that the children can eat, play and sleep on the
plywood and kept them dry. We believe that this is the solution now that we
could give to the people while they wait for final relocation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"> (Yolanda survivor showing off her new flooring.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">Murphy
added, “The family can also bring their plywood in their permanent shelter once
it is done. This is a solution for </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">now, the people don’t want permanently</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">to s</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">tay near the ocean nor they do want </span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;">to stay</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif;"> in a temporary house forever.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Belinda
Guinoohan, resident of Barangay 90 and beneficiary of plywood flooring said, “I
am very excited with our new floorings. My husband will fix it for us. We will
now be able to sleep soundly at night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Guinoohan
added, “Our tent is a hope for most of us because it helps us dream again of
safe and permanent housing. Once you are inside our tent you will see on how
all the improvements have come from overseas it looks all the world come
together to help us. We are thankful for UPA because aside from material
assistance they helped us bring care to one another and asked us to be united
to claim what the government should do for all the victims of Yolanda.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">UPA
and its partners Christian Aid and Holy Spirit Sisters will help in the
recovery and reconstruction. Aside from temporary aid of plywood floorings, the
group have distributed 40 boats to fishermen last February and provided
nutritious snacks as a feeding program for about thousand children. In all this
endeavors, survivors were always consulted and asked their participation from boat
making to cooking of meals, in this way the community camaraderie is harnessed.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
parting, Murphy said, “Our work here is basically to ensure that all Yolanda
survivors arrived at a more prosperous and safe life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYIAKYL2TPQFWu8MoLpZfcZJWUCOxRCC-h_FWEFPXQyLYubMpY5N8MpW7WwGBgWZUs_H19MEfDQAOAKpyStmXjSeu6WXSJUMYUBYJVl7ITJIYv4ba38SCT_SvLzAdqLAKGemONxO1TdM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYIAKYL2TPQFWu8MoLpZfcZJWUCOxRCC-h_FWEFPXQyLYubMpY5N8MpW7WwGBgWZUs_H19MEfDQAOAKpyStmXjSeu6WXSJUMYUBYJVl7ITJIYv4ba38SCT_SvLzAdqLAKGemONxO1TdM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(UPA Staff (L-R: Ivy Pagute, Jessa Margallo, Alicia Murphy and Denis Murphy) with Tacloban fishermen)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-30-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-2362699584826649382014-03-14T20:01:00.000-07:002014-03-20T20:10:33.959-07:00Danger on the Trail Ahead<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I see a great danger looming for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” as they trudge toward recovery. I fear that the plan of the government and the United Nations to end all food relief in April is premature, and can cause many families to fall back into hunger rather than spur them forward to economic self-reliance.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Six months after a disaster, the United Nations and other relief bodies regularly end the distribution of food, believing that by that time the beneficiaries will have enough cash income to buy the food they need. After six months a dole economy gives way to a cash economy. Donors believe longer food relief will encourage dependency.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But the result of our own sampling of the families in Barangays 89 and 90 of Tacloban City shows that many would not yet have found sufficient income to purchase their food when the cutoff comes in April. We should note that cash-for-work programs will also stop in April, along with the restoration and repair of agriculture and aquatic resources.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We selected 30 families at random in Barangays 89 and 90 and asked them if right now they can pay cash for the food they eat, or if they depend to some degree on the food relief. All but five said they cannot yet pay for all the food they eat or need to eat. I don’t see a realistic hope that they can do so by April, especially if the UN program and other cash-for-work programs are suspended. The families all seek economic opportunities.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To be honest, I have talked about this matter with high UN officials, international donors, members of local nongovernment organizations, personal friends, and my wife, Alicia. Only my wife agrees with me because she has met the same people I have met. She doesn’t always agree with me so readily, as our friends know. To most of the other people I spoke with, I must have sounded like the hen in the children’s story “Henny Penny,” who went around frantically warning everyone that the sky was falling because an acorn had fallen on her head.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We shouldn’t be surprised that the typhoon survivors do not have enough income to take over the cost of food. Most of them lost the very means of work. Fishers lost their boats, motors and nets. Rice farmers lost their fields to salt-water inflows. Coconut farmers lost their trees. Only a small fraction of fishers have new equipment. The fields, I am told, need at least an entire rainy season to recover, and new coconut trees need six years before they can bear fruit. Countless other wage earners had worked hand in hand with the fishers and farmers, such as fish marketers and coconut oil workers. Now they are also out of work.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Tacloban the people of Barangays 88, 89 and 90, where well over 1,000 people died, have taken advantage of every economic opportunity offered even while receiving food aid. For example, they worked with the Holy Spirit sisters to make the fishing boats they will use. They scavenge, vend food products in the city, and search for casual employment. They put up sari-sari stores with the financing they got from the Tzu Chi Foundation.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The need is not for a closure, but for an expansion, of cash-for-work programs. There is a need for large public works programs that, for example, can build sea walls to mitigate future storm surges, build artificial reefs to allow for the replenishment of the fish stock, remove debris, and make public improvements in communities.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We should also remember that Samar and Leyte have always been among the country’s poorest provinces. There was never much economic fat on most people in these provinces, and Yolanda took that little away. They have a long road in front of them before they reach some level of economic sufficiency.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Some donors are afraid that too long a period of food relief will encourage people to be dependent. I am reminded of the words of sociologist Gelia Castillo of the University of the Philippines Los Baños: “If poor people really depended on the Philippine government for the necessities of life, they would be dead by now.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ordinary men and women don’t like to beg or line up for food. Whether they have food relief or not, poor people will strive to find work. With work comes self-respect, which all people seek. Food relief may make some families overly dependent, but they are not many. Isn’t it an awful indictment of a nation’s people to say food relief can dull their sense of dignity as human beings?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We ask the government and the United Nations to monitor the actual situation of the poor closely to judge if they have sufficient income and will not be hurt if the food relief is shut down a month from now. It would be a great cruelty to allow our poor people to fall back into food poverty just because we have followed a general norm without an intense inspection of the actual situation on the ground. Please take another close look.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since the days of ancient Greece and the Hippocratic Oath, doctors have been told that their first duty is “not to do harm.” I suggest we make that our first rule in this matter of the food relief cutoff.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-77590687005129128452014-03-07T00:01:00.000-08:002014-03-07T00:04:05.623-08:00Hard times, good times<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commentary</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Life in the fishing communities of Tacloban City devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” can be austere and sacred one day, and funny and quite beautiful the next. Here are some of those times.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the altar at a capilla in Costa Brava, Barangay 88, is the strangest group of holy statues I have ever seen. A life-sized statue of the Blessed Mother has no hands, a statue of Jesus is headless, smaller statues lack arms and legs and angels have lost wings. At the center of the altar is a statue of the Sacred Heart with the heart missing. The embossed wooden heart was torn away in the storm.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The statues are the blind, the lame and the damaged of the spirit world. All the statues were recovered from the ruins of the people’s houses.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I stared at the statues, I felt I knew them. These very statues seemed familiar, not just the persons they represented. I wondered for a while and then it struck me: The statues reminded me of the group of poor people we had met on entering the barangay. Those people had seemed especially troubled, crestfallen. The women were thinner, more harried looking, than in the other areas in which we work. A little girl looked at me with large haunted eyes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The shoreline Barangay 88 was among the hardest hit in all of Tacloban. Some 719 people died; in the Costa Brava district alone, 122 were dead. These were all families living peacefully by the sea, as they had for 30 years or more. All the houses were blasted, so the area is now a field of shattered rocks and concrete as far as the eye can see. The people’s efforts to get help have largely failed, they told us. The women told stories of disappointment. No NGOs worked here, except for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. In this chapel, the statues are the people and the people are the statues.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The story is that a woman in another town dreamed of the Sacred Heart statue buried under debris. She had no connection with Costa Brava, but she came directly to the spot where the statue lay, according to the local people, and found the statue. She wanted to take it away with her, but the people stopped her. They put the statue in the capilla that is now just a back wall and a meter of roofing extending out over the altar. They surrounded it with the other statues found in the ruins. People say the statue works miracles.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Miracles or not, it seems God has identified Himself with the typhoon victims. Is there any better place for Him to make His appearance than in this sad place where so many died, is there any better way to show that He and the poor people are one? How could this closeness be expressed more convincingly than to have Jesus, Mary and His saints and angels share the sufferings of the poor, the storm surge, destruction and helplessness, including the need to have others pull them out of the debris?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We have to know more about popular piety and folk religion to know how the poor feel about the statues, but I’m sure they are a most welcome presence in the area.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a different story a few days earlier in another barangay at the launch of 40 fishing boats organized by the Holy Spirit nuns. The nuns received the money for the boats and nets from donors; the fishers helped build the boats. The nuns and the fishers have signed a memorandum of agreement that includes a savings plan, and Archbishop John Du of Palo blessed the boats.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The boats and the memorandum of agreement are the first signs of a people’s independent organization arising in the coastal communities of Barangays 88, 89 and 90.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After the formal ceremony was over—which also included the presentation of 14 pedicabs—the boats were put in the water and the fishers, children, guests and nuns (including the superior general of the Holy Spirit congregation, Sr. Maria Theresia Hornemann, SSpS) piled in. Soon the boats were tracing beautiful designs on the sea that had done so much damage to the people only last November. The people have fought back from near annihilation with dignity. At the very end of the day, as we left, there were children swimming in the sea—tiny black silhouettes against the gray water.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On our first night in Tacloban we were told by the Redemptorist missionaries under Brother Karl Gaspar that there is shame and regret in many hearts. People did not act with the bravery that their children deserved. People saved themselves rather than their dear ones.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This guilt needs careful pastoral and clinical care, which the Redemptorists are extending. People are ashamed that they survived when their children died, though they may have done nothing wrong. Such guilt may be felt more by the poor than by well-off people who may have greater ability to excuse themselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finally, last Feb. 15, a Saturday, we attended a feeding of 175 children in the Payapay district of Barangay 89. The children sang, played games, did exercises, and ate arroz caldo prepared in cauldrons by the local mothers. The children were traumatized by Yolanda, we were told, but you’d never know it watching them singing and laughing. A child not yet a year old had a smile that made people laugh. Her mother and the children around chanted a certain song and the baby flashed two smiles as quick as the blink of an eye. Everyone laughed. The mothers repeated this little show, laughing harder and harder, as they realized, it seemed, that they could laugh freely once again.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If the people can laugh and form their democratic people’s organization to deal with a harsh and unjust world, and if they can hold on to their deep understanding of God, “all will be well … and all matter of things will be well.” (St. Julian of Norwich +1416).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
<br />
<br />Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-84718729555053460792014-02-28T03:00:00.000-08:002014-03-04T03:06:14.665-08:0059 Families in Estero de San Miguel-Legarda Relocated in Muzon, Bulacan<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iMpBdr63jieXYDVupgZVvcojfq94kbSiA_xAtgfAZbbW7rgvy68iqaZmZswTTg5JcB6qAqgLI4-gaBXegIYzLYg-L_KSg1qKtUYuoZKv7IWfWMgnF7dCUUTY2XZ4pmKcueET6R2sDAM/s1600/IMG_0990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iMpBdr63jieXYDVupgZVvcojfq94kbSiA_xAtgfAZbbW7rgvy68iqaZmZswTTg5JcB6qAqgLI4-gaBXegIYzLYg-L_KSg1qKtUYuoZKv7IWfWMgnF7dCUUTY2XZ4pmKcueET6R2sDAM/s1600/IMG_0990.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">( Barangay Muzon, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan Province.)</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S2Ex5rODA4P60t2U9EEEjWquJX5njEaodReC-0-vDVIHcJC0xuy7yjgS4dad3wuy8XnAXHCr6cveZwSt9CQzrD8S4mwO-2pf_zJVfTtR5lVEpqH2DBWuNxjIJ6otNPfIflN-g7DGJOk/s1600/IMG_0980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9S2Ex5rODA4P60t2U9EEEjWquJX5njEaodReC-0-vDVIHcJC0xuy7yjgS4dad3wuy8XnAXHCr6cveZwSt9CQzrD8S4mwO-2pf_zJVfTtR5lVEpqH2DBWuNxjIJ6otNPfIflN-g7DGJOk/s1600/IMG_0980.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Urban Poor Associates (UPA) helped 59 families of
Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Legarda find near-city relocation. The 59 families were
relocated in Muzon, Bulacan last February 28. The relocation was facilitated by
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC)
and National Housing Authority (NHA).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">(NML leaders assisted families relocated in Muzon, Bulacan.)</span><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkeHbe3-RUvTCORdI4POYkRYkWPDC3Igqttm4Alp2QlknWqDahOU8c2Joz9swihr1jek-Gkh_DUsxn3uI7EgMjrcbsRE0OoNxMp_WGB88KQUG4CbdrG5mvz8bebTkKzDZSZq90VMjsI4/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkeHbe3-RUvTCORdI4POYkRYkWPDC3Igqttm4Alp2QlknWqDahOU8c2Joz9swihr1jek-Gkh_DUsxn3uI7EgMjrcbsRE0OoNxMp_WGB88KQUG4CbdrG5mvz8bebTkKzDZSZq90VMjsI4/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 59 families were provided with houses that have space for
a loft in Barangay Muzon, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan Province. This is a 45
kilometers away from Manila. As of February 5, the relocation site has 3,560
families’ occupants. The site is a 30-hectare resettlement and every house have
an average floor area of 22 square meters and a 40 square meters lot area. The
developer is Lak-K Builders Co. The Muzon resettlement site was allocated for
families living along waterways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiUAzUo-74tJ_TOn5Jh-ubC-zmS4TFhYLGCeyIZzVfGiTp739zdOooVo8X_uCWjuipHZntk_KwHLni0td9YnBOcMfyxATzl7EUP-308PQQH8F2QogHt9A8gcIEotnXfacnELqZ4KeDzc/s1600/IMG_1006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiUAzUo-74tJ_TOn5Jh-ubC-zmS4TFhYLGCeyIZzVfGiTp739zdOooVo8X_uCWjuipHZntk_KwHLni0td9YnBOcMfyxATzl7EUP-308PQQH8F2QogHt9A8gcIEotnXfacnELqZ4KeDzc/s1600/IMG_1006.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Venus Grecia, an Estero de San Miguel-Legarda settler said,
“We are thankful to UPA and our people’s organization, NML since they assisted
us in our transfer in Muzon. We are very happy that finally we have a place we
can call home.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: center;">(Venus, wearing blue, together with her sister and brothers at their own unit in Muzon, Bulacan.)</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.933334350585938px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.933334350585938px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.933334350585938px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.933334350585938px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-30-</span></span></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-91594751813539286202014-02-26T10:00:00.000-08:002014-02-26T20:15:16.189-08:00Urban Poor Call for the Amendment of UDHA<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">26 February 2014.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Task Force UDHA Amendments composed of Urban
Poor Associates (UPA), Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Partnership of
Philippine Support Service Agencies Inc (Philssa), Peoples Alternative Study
Center for Research and Education in Social Development (Pascres) and various
peoples organizations from different cities attended the committee hearing on <b>Housing
and Urban Development meeting today at
Speaker Yniguez Hall, South Wing Annex Building, House of Representatives </b>that
discussed the amendments on House Bill 2791 entitled “Strengthening and
Securing the Rights of the Urban Poor Against Evictions and/or Demolitions and
to Provide Adequate Housing” introduced by Representatives Cresente Paez,
Leonor Robredo and et al.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Celia Santos, UPA UDHA Advocacy Officer
said, “We are happy that finally our proposed amendments on House Bill 2791 are
now being discussed in the committee Hearing under Congressman Alfred Benitez. This
bill will ensure that the rights of the poor for decent housing will be given a
priority.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">This bill aims to further secure the urban poor
from eviction and demolition of their homes and from relocating them in distant
places lacking basic services and livelihood opportunities, thus clarifying the
definition of “resettlement areas” that it must be within and/or near city
areas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Last February 19, </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">President
Benigno Aquino III graced the presentation of the first urban on-site
medium-rise building model unit through a people’s plan at Claro M. Recto High
School, Legarda, Sampaloc, Manila. The house is set three meters back from the
estero. It is energy efficient and resistant to floods, liquefaction and earth
shaking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="yiv2128669949yui3130ym1113927638276062815"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Filomena Cinco,
President of Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Legarda said, "It took us five years to realize our
dream of on-site housing along Estero de San Miguel. We have asked the help of
UPA, our NGO partner to get architects that will tell the government that the
project can be done. Through House bill 2791, the government will not just tell
urban poor people living along waterways that they must be evicted because they
are in danger areas. With the bill, waterways dwellers can seek proper
technical and scientific study to opt for on-site housing and a public
consultations will be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="yiv2128669949yui3130ym1113927638276062819"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cinco added, "Our
proposed UDHA Amendments is not just a protection to urban poor people rights, more
than that it will protect the government and the public to secure that poverty
alleviation and risk mitigation can be achieved."</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="yiv2128669949yui3130ym1113927638276062819"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">-30-</span></span></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-32862079785174555062014-02-21T20:02:00.000-08:002014-02-26T20:07:29.254-08:00Trapped in unbreakable gridlock<div id="InRead" style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Commentary </div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Denis Murphy</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
One day the long lines of cars taking people home from work at the end of the day will slow to a crawl and finally stop. The roar of traffic will cease and a silence, alarming in its completeness, will take over. Soon one or two drivers will blow their horns in annoyance and then all the drivers will unite in a piteous plea to the gods of traffic to come to their aid. There will be no answer; the gods have left Edsa, C-5 and all of Metro Manila. They leave behind hundreds of thousands of cars trapped in unbreakable gridlock. The cars we were so proud of are now junk for the ages.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We should have known this moment was coming when we found that young bankers in Marikina must leave their houses at 6 a.m. to get to their offices in Makati by 9 a.m. Lawyers in Novaliches must leave their homes at 5:30 a.m. to get to a hearing in Makati at 8:30. There are no longer special rush hours; there are traffic jams at high noon and late at night.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We should have come to our senses when we found we were spending more money on parking spaces in Metro Manila than on the housing of poor families. The first six floors of the new Napolcom building at Edsa and Quezon Boulevard, for example, are given to parking cars. Whole buildings are given over to parking. The costs involved far outweigh the funds given to housing the poor.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We should have realized traffic was moving toward a tragic crisis when we saw increasing examples of road rage. Recently on Edsa, two businessmen crashed into each other. The two leapt out of their cars, drew their guns, and started firing. Unfortunately, an innocent passerby was injured. The two gunmen must have had their guns on the seat beside them, ready for action.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We should have realized that in a poor country where there isn’t enough food or medicine for every child, we should not keep spending money to build the flyovers, tunnels and elevated highways the cars demand. We barely managed in the past to keep up with the increase in cars, but we are falling behind (traffic is slowing): The patient is dying. The Department of Public Works and Highways estimates that it will have spent P1 trillion (12 zeros) on highways from 2011 to 2016 (Urban Roads Project Office). President Aquino has given the urban poor of Metro Manila affected by flooding P50 billion for the same five years, which is 5 percent of the total given the cars. The money given the poor is appreciated, but it is clear that the housing fund pales in comparison with that given to highways and cars. We can’t compare the two amounts in every regard, and there are other funding to be figured in, but the comparison gives some idea of the imbalances involved.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Finally, we should have stopped and taken a good hard look at our traffic problem when the Japan International Cooperation Agency told us that P2 billion was being wasted each day in Metro Manila because of the terrible traffic-fuel losses and unused work hours.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What must be done? The starting datum for a fruitful discussion must be that there are simply too many cars, and their number must be radically reduced, by up to half perhaps. There will be no hope of smooth-flowing traffic ever again if the cars are not seriously culled. Cars are the heart of the problem. Trucks, buses, bad driving habits, poorly-maintained vehicles and bad policing are much less crucial. In Metro Manila, 1.6 million cars were registered last year (DOTC/LTO, September 2013). If the number is limited significantly, we will not need new, expensive infrastructure; the present highways and flyovers will be enough. The money saved can be used for a first-class bus system. The reduced number of cars will allow for speed. Our young businessmen and lawyers will be able to board an air-conditioned bus near Cubao and arrive in Makati in 20 minutes, just enough time to read the papers.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div id="inread1_26817" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div id="inread_26817" style="border: 0px; height: 1px; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 100%px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr id="zd_tr_26817" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td id="zd_td_26817" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<div id="zd_newid_26817" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
How do we limit the cars? We must limit them, so there must be a way:</div>
<div id="zd_newid_26817" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
• We can do it through fees. If you wish to take your car on Edsa or other main arteries on work days, you pay a steep fee. To make this scheme acceptable, there must be a good public transport system as an alternative. Fees and new transport must appear at the same time. Singapore and other cities have used this method.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
• The government buys back cars beginning with the oldest models. In addition, it gives the owners a lifetime free pass on the new bus system it will put in place. It offers other inducements as necessary.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
• Up to 6 a.m. cars can travel freely. After 6 a.m. they must have special licenses. After 10 p.m. they can drive freely.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The prospect of a complete breakdown of traffic may seem farfetched, but remember, we once thought typhoons with 300-kph winds and seven-meter-high storm surges were far-fetched until Supertyphoon “Yolanda” leveled the Visayas. We need our creative people, young and old, to put their minds to this problem: How do we limit cars so that our traffic transport system can get us where we want to go swiftly and comfortably? In New York they now charge $14 to cross a bridge in a car, and $28 back and forth. It has lowered the number of cars coming into the city.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
This is not a wacky search. We must limit cars, or you will look out the window someday and see an unbreakable Gordian Knot of stalled traffic.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</div>
</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span>Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-41605141133631381202014-02-19T00:38:00.000-08:002014-02-20T00:59:29.632-08:00Urban Poor First On-Site Shelter through People’s Plan<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtfyPQq3MgBCHRV046cL10pJyELK1aDvWapDtm4vaAz3QLatqgbrnrK2I_mC7qHZomNYuYBm7MtzeVVQW785NdrjD2b7XjHaNd4R2TWjYVSfMNwGcKVmQNgG9pGPpptoPA-L9jh8cn_s/s1600/DSC06814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtfyPQq3MgBCHRV046cL10pJyELK1aDvWapDtm4vaAz3QLatqgbrnrK2I_mC7qHZomNYuYBm7MtzeVVQW785NdrjD2b7XjHaNd4R2TWjYVSfMNwGcKVmQNgG9pGPpptoPA-L9jh8cn_s/s1600/DSC06814.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a>19 February 2014. President Benigno Aquino III graced the presentation of the first urban on-site medium-rise building model unit through a people’s plan today at Claro M. Recto High School, Legarda, Sampaloc, Manila. It was also attended by DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, Urban Poor Associates the partner NGO for the project and Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Legarda, the people’s organization and the beneficiaries of the micro Medium Rise-Building.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapmnvAIK_Oz87krV0o45zu32ZCKst8RmyqMdRnd3gS7ypM19TJ1S-KB702hpSU4OzQK8YDG_Io5LtNf1eUx-dc_B17NR7zUVWgMtJPFBXFmFny5nZ6HGH6GvVtJz5P2cq9PYygj7Oqew/s1600/DSC06930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapmnvAIK_Oz87krV0o45zu32ZCKst8RmyqMdRnd3gS7ypM19TJ1S-KB702hpSU4OzQK8YDG_Io5LtNf1eUx-dc_B17NR7zUVWgMtJPFBXFmFny5nZ6HGH6GvVtJz5P2cq9PYygj7Oqew/s1600/DSC06930.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first urban poor on-site housing is a national government program in pursuit of providing decent housing in the city for poor people instead of relocating them far from the city when there is need of removing them from danger areas. The housing design was conceptualized by the green architect Felino Palafox and put into work by Architect Albert Zambrano of Mapua Institute of Technology, School of Architecture. The house is set three meters back from the estero. It is energy efficient and resistant to floods, liquefaction and earth shaking.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
UPA point out that people build the city as this is the first housing that was made possible through a people's plan, the people secured the architects who made the plan and the people worked with the government to get all the licenses and funding. Some 105 families will benefit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzDinHoH-IrENWHexptW1V_8IYaj13HsASlr8SR2o3W7jfeIMQZLQrJKbRy0FfLKDG_5SlT-CaplG1V-czyeKzbISxMmCIJ4M6__meQDmcPyntfUBZTqOqy513TQE0Bmauz8Ex2s1zFY/s1600/DSC06811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzDinHoH-IrENWHexptW1V_8IYaj13HsASlr8SR2o3W7jfeIMQZLQrJKbRy0FfLKDG_5SlT-CaplG1V-czyeKzbISxMmCIJ4M6__meQDmcPyntfUBZTqOqy513TQE0Bmauz8Ex2s1zFY/s1600/DSC06811.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a>Filomena Cinco, President of Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Legarda said, "We are very happy that finally after five years our homes are built along the Estero De San Miguel, where we have lived for more than 20 years. Finally, our pains, tears and struggled turned into sweet victory-- the model housing unit is an inspiration for all informal settlers dreaming of decent and affordable shelter."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Cinco added, "We will do everything to make our community peaceful, healthy, and clean to continue become a model of hope that things can be done as long as we, poor people are united and organized."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHShdNCEDdul3RyXmkzhLXnayf8fdkT774amsUi00SZWdjBsTsQK-YBrT5AO6S9e2IyPyWH7Lk6fFlVtQ-cOhvuTno9wsEURJlmUxHnyUTRiiikyYPyCjeCSqhxn5zvqUhem37Ox1vJlo/s1600/DSC06985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHShdNCEDdul3RyXmkzhLXnayf8fdkT774amsUi00SZWdjBsTsQK-YBrT5AO6S9e2IyPyWH7Lk6fFlVtQ-cOhvuTno9wsEURJlmUxHnyUTRiiikyYPyCjeCSqhxn5zvqUhem37Ox1vJlo/s1600/DSC06985.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a>Alicia Murphy, field director of UPA said, "pushing for on-site housing took a lot of hard work of the people's organization. NML unity was tested and harassed through those years of struggle to attain land tenure security. This work shows that housing can be done in the city through collaboration between people's group and the government. The project reflects the vision of the Late Secretary Jesse Robredo and has been whole-heatedly supported by Secretary Mar Roxas, Secretary Dinky Soliman and President Noynoy Aquino."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Murphy concluded, “we are hopeful that this housing will be imitated in other urban poor areas and in the three priority esteros, Estero de Quiapo, Estero de San Sebastian and Estero de San Miguel-P.Casal, so that we can have a healthier workforce through decent and affordable housing."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZtgkqJtNmmtyMbq88d6_Uik0cHpDSocj5ITY9olJZeRfLE6LU37PSQVtUOf96C5AIYuvzXinDYCFECMMXBny2cnT2YnIBkHTAwy1g5bm_r5TA-4G1w4MZR2r8Iy3bAOZ2L_wuZCiJnQ/s1600/DSC06978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZtgkqJtNmmtyMbq88d6_Uik0cHpDSocj5ITY9olJZeRfLE6LU37PSQVtUOf96C5AIYuvzXinDYCFECMMXBny2cnT2YnIBkHTAwy1g5bm_r5TA-4G1w4MZR2r8Iy3bAOZ2L_wuZCiJnQ/s1600/DSC06978.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-30-</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-2738007749649091122014-02-13T19:52:00.001-08:002014-02-13T19:54:41.945-08:00Boats for Tacloban Fishermen<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Urban
Poor Associates (UPA) together with Holy Spirit Sisters (SSPS) turned-over 40
boats to fishermen on February 13 at Barangay 90 Payapay, San Jose, Tacloban
City. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoup1vOiju7YLnmSLQZegNpFDhU75a99YSi2zuVys2IwdPg9sBxgGSvdRuGpx62RSijda8lMccQqU_HalOjM0FNOIO8RyMv77QRSYlsoQStwwpTAu8dSflRB5JMSKbpNN-4iJfb_cytaY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoup1vOiju7YLnmSLQZegNpFDhU75a99YSi2zuVys2IwdPg9sBxgGSvdRuGpx62RSijda8lMccQqU_HalOjM0FNOIO8RyMv77QRSYlsoQStwwpTAu8dSflRB5JMSKbpNN-4iJfb_cytaY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDOGJ2gsvnx8vDwCVRPrdra1ZeojO8Un2-3-UtPtIj3tcmHy4nq3FGl99BSDXoRzhkxusonxEjz6QCveJL4MPf2q-gY1FY4u4DRVnA4VnfZ-BjMHIn0-dZ1jQ-6QFVexkJsgHZXaI7mw/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDOGJ2gsvnx8vDwCVRPrdra1ZeojO8Un2-3-UtPtIj3tcmHy4nq3FGl99BSDXoRzhkxusonxEjz6QCveJL4MPf2q-gY1FY4u4DRVnA4VnfZ-BjMHIn0-dZ1jQ-6QFVexkJsgHZXaI7mw/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Fishermen
together with their wives and children gathered by the shore as Bishop John Du
and Fr. Hector Villamil blessed the boats. The fishermen asked the Lord to
drive away unfavorable wind from their boats and to always calm the sea. They
prayed for fervent protection against typhoon like Yolanda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
boats are painted blue with length of 20 feet and width of 18 inches. It has motor
engine, paddle, nets and as part of disaster preparedness, a life-jacket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Rene
Labucay, beneficiary of the boat and resident of Barangay 90 said, “I know that
this boat will bring us luck because the boat united all the fishermen. We
worked hard in making the boats and that what made it different from all the
gifts we have received after typhoon Yolanda.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“We
are very grateful that the Holy Spirit Sisters chose our barangay to distribute
the boats. We are also thankful that the sisters brought UPA and the local
organizers to help our community be organized. We are very happy and felt loved
by many people who helped us,” Labucay added. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu5MXidhR06LDwKki09O3oiYv-dwoWYS0FlBkLa1JRYGvRhZzaoJL8JnPKt6ABjsea58xtoXwDY_y_TXdq4GkWyNToZETHIN9ES0MU7XUuLi1i2_WW2u8tnvBOgVw2ZuI8xszO0Yhyphenhyphen8c/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXu5MXidhR06LDwKki09O3oiYv-dwoWYS0FlBkLa1JRYGvRhZzaoJL8JnPKt6ABjsea58xtoXwDY_y_TXdq4GkWyNToZETHIN9ES0MU7XUuLi1i2_WW2u8tnvBOgVw2ZuI8xszO0Yhyphenhyphen8c/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Sr.
Marie Claire Manding, SSPS said, “The livelihood project in Tacloban is a
collaboration of the South and North Holy Spirit Sisters (SSPS) provincials. We
are planning to increase the number of beneficiaries by providing 125 boats or
more. This signifies the 125<sup>th</sup> year of foundation of SSPS
congregation in the whole world. We would also like to extend our gratitude to
all the donors who believed in the project. This entire activity is a
celebration of life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">UPA
partnership with SSPS resulted after UPA held a forum last December 17, 2013
entitled “Build Back Better” that aimed to ensure that the people of Tacloban
will be consulted in all aspects of national reconstruction, including land,
houses, health, jobs, administration, and hygiene kits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Alicia
Murphy, UPA Field Director said, “UPA helped in organizing Barangays 89 and 90
two areas hard-hit by Typhoon Yolanda, where the beneficiaries of the boats
live. We aim that the organizing of 2,000 families will not only be for the
livelihood program but eventually decent and resilient permanent housing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“We
are thankful with DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman who gave us tents and generator
for the construction of boats,” Murphy added. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
fishermen put up peoples organizations called Yolanda Survivor Fishermen
Associations to help them have a dialogue with the government agencies who can
help in providing solutions to their needs. The women are also creating an organization
that will focus on the needs of women and children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEtrf5N2cmYex3uj4yaB8R7SSVE9ZWMpoPE1ATGwtyKTpFOXO6GKff33H-Vbs1e2MfgtXL97gA1Uqkf9XUaKPayQWewwh8gDz95ac5tk_j5G4tU22RHBQaJvxisSDX3fXig_WPSNhY3Q/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEtrf5N2cmYex3uj4yaB8R7SSVE9ZWMpoPE1ATGwtyKTpFOXO6GKff33H-Vbs1e2MfgtXL97gA1Uqkf9XUaKPayQWewwh8gDz95ac5tk_j5G4tU22RHBQaJvxisSDX3fXig_WPSNhY3Q/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
group earlier distributed 14 pedicabs. The drivers are now earning 100 a day.
It also helped them transport all their belongings every time there is call for
evacuation. The Holy Spirit Sisters and UPA are also doing a Saturday feeding
program that aims to give 165 children in Payapay a nutritious meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Murphy concluded, “We are doing this
to make sure that the government acknowledges the best practices in reconstruction.
We want worldwide acknowledged best practices to ensure that the majority of
Yolanda survivors be served with integrity and that all their needs will be
given priority.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-30-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3315004635948443094.post-54654501935201345012014-02-12T23:48:00.000-08:002014-02-18T23:50:00.530-08:00How are we doing?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Commentary</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denis Murphy</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s been more than three months since the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” Maybe it is time for President Aquino to talk to the nation about the progress made to date in the reconstruction, and how he evaluates the work. What guidelines does he feel must be reaffirmed? What are the great priorities for action? Maybe it is also time to refocus the country’s energies on this enormous task, the most complicated work of its kind since the reconstruction after World War II.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Senate plans its own investigation of the Yolanda work. That, too, is welcome. We can count on the Senate to reveal the political backdrop to the work down south. The reconstruction work is so immense that we need many other evaluations.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here in Manila we hardly hear details of the work. We have our basketball games, movie festivals, and Senate inquiries; these hold our attention while 5 million survivors of Yolanda and more survivors in Bohol, Zamboanga and Eastern Mindanao fight for decent survival. For many, the work undertaken in the Visayas and Mindanao is as remote as the war in Sudan.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reconstruction is really too important a work for the nation’s future economic and cultural health to allow political and money-making considerations to guide decision-making. Yolanda is the great crisis of this generation. What solidarity can exist in the nation if we allow hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters to go homeless and hungry? Who will respect our leaders if they fail to lead by example of hard work and honesty? What face will we have in the international community?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among the guidelines the President might reaffirm is the policy that families cannot be removed from their homes unless they consent to be relocated on a permanent basis to a site they have approved, to concrete houses with a clear road to a title in the future. There should be work available in the relocation area. Fishermen’s families can be relocated, but there should be a facility along the shoreline, a wharf perhaps, where they can store their boats, prepare and market their fish, or send the fish to larger markets, and sleep when convenient. Fishing is the only income these families have.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President might see to it that agricultural workers who find their crops and trees in ruins will receive seeds, fertilizers, plows and other forms of assistance, and be benefited by land reform. Why not? It could make the difference between simply “building back” and “building back better.” I think the people of the nation would like to hear the President reaffirm that the recovery will be characterized by people’s participation and will be community-driven. Democracy is often the first casualty in a crisis.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reconstruction work is as complicated as life itself. How complicated it is is seen in a community discussion held late in January in Tacloban City. The people, mostly fishermen and their wives, were discussing new fishing boats, relocation, a fisherman’s wharf, improving the tents provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and feeding programs for children. And then a middle-aged woman stood up to tell the people there: “We discuss these things and we need them all, but we also need bras, panties and sanitary napkins. It’s impossible to keep our clothes dry in all this rain. Oh, yes, the men need briefs, underwear. They’re human, too.” The crowd laughed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People would also like to hear from “reconstruction czar” Panfilo Lacson. What is his assessment of the overall work? What is he concentrating on? Is he mostly concerned with big businesses, as rumors have it? What are the major problems he faces?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People would like to know the overall financial situation of the recovery effort. Did the country get the funding it hoped for from the UN, international NGOs, and individual countries? If there is less funding than expected, where will cuts be made? How was the local financial contribution?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have people been arrested for hoarding, raising prices artificially, stealing resources, and profiteering in other ways? Has anyone been punished? Most people will assume, I’m afraid, that if some people have not been arrested, the old crimes are taking place with impunity.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A wise and learned priest told me this story a few days ago about St. Alberto Hurtado, a 20th-century Jesuit priest in Chile who held doctorates in law and in education and worked with labor unions, youth and the homeless. He marveled at the closeness of the poor to God. One rainy night Hurtado was late for a big meeting. He was running to his car to catch up when he saw a sick old man sitting in the rain. He gave the old man the money he had in his pocket and ran on. Then he stopped. He went back to the Jesuit house, took all the food in the refrigerator, and gave it to the man. He took off his coat and wrapped it around him. And as he watched in amazement, the tired, ravaged face of the old man turned into that of Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denis Murphy works with the Urban Poor Associates (urbanpoorassociates@ymail.com).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Urban Poor Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072098689693987084noreply@blogger.com0