14 May 2012. Urban poor leaders have
criticized Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission head Regina Lopez for
confusing two issues: the health of the river
and estero waters and the issue of what to do with the thousands of poor
families living along the waterways.
Filomena
Cinco, leader of the poor people along a segment of Estero de San Miguel said,
“All people on the waterways want clean water.
In fact they want it more than anyone, because they live next to the
waterways. We will help Gina Lopez clean
the waters. We are part of her River
Warriors who protect the water.”
She
said the difference between the Lopez and the poor has to do with re-housing
the poor. PRRC and Lopez plan to put the
poor in distant areas where there are no jobs, with the result people go
hungry, return to Manila or divide the families—workers stay in Manila, while
mothers, old people and children stay in the relocation site. This is sure to damage family life. Distant relocation promises greater poverty
and suffering. The poor want to follow
the example set in Indonesia and Thailand of constructing homes for the poor on
the banks of river and canals allowing three meter easements.
Cinco said. “Lopez plans parks for the river
banks. The people want people
there. We want to stay on the esteros
because we are near our jobs, schools and hospitals.
“The
urban poor claim Palafox Associates one of the country’s great architectural
bodies has developed housing design for the estero,” she added.
“Everyone
wants clean esteros. Gina Lopez wants to
build parks and relegate the poor people to greater suffering in distant
relocation sites. The poor want to build
houses on the esteros that will give the poor safe, affordable and attractive
housing and allow them to keep their jobs, and hold their families together.”
The
urban poor reminds President Benigno Aquino that he promised to help them and
allow them to stay in the esteros in the Palafox designed houses.
The
rest of the world finds solutions for their poor families living along canals. Why can’t we do it here? the urban poor ask.
They believe housing the poor where they are makes good economic and political
sense. It is first of all a cheaper
solution than distant relocation, according to studies made by the DILG. Politically it will win the loyalty of
thousands of poor families. The poor ask
government to trust our people and architects.
We can make gardens of the esteros where no one lives now. We can do both housing and gardens. To sentence the poor to relocation in places
like Calauan is to hurt the poor in a very serious economic and social manner. -30-
