Urban poor women and children to fight against illegal demolition

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Urban poor women and children to fight against illegal demolition

The country’s slum dwellers are always the first to suffer when government pushes its development projects. This time, however, poor families living under San Andres Bridge 1 along South Super Highway in Paco, Manila are intending to put up a fight against Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Threatened with illegal demolition, the settlers are planning on Tuesday, February 27, to form a barricade of women and children to resist any attempt to tear down their houses along Estero Tripa de Gallina. “Lalaban kami kung kailangang magbuwis ng buhay. Di baleng mamatay ako, madinig lang, pansinin lang ang problema,” said 47-year old Alberta Abenaza, president of Samahan ng mga Taga Ilalim ng Tulay Neighborhood Association (SAINT), a people’s organization.

Since 2001, Abenaza has written letters asking for relocation assistance to the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), Presidential Action Center, National Housing Authority (NHA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), DPWH, MMDA, Church groups, and several Manila City officials.

“Di naman po kami tutol sa proyekto, ang hinihiling lamang po namin ay mabigyan ng pag-asa upang mabago at maitaguyod ang aming pamilya sa maayos na pamumuhay,” said Abenaza.

Personnel from MMDA and DPWH have verbally informed the residents last February 21 that they will be forcibly evicted due to the repair of the bridge.

The settlers who have lived for more than 14 years at the community filed their petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction last January 12 at the Manila Regional Trial Court to prevent their eviction and the demolition of their houses. The presiding judge of the case is Judge Tita Bughao Alisuag of RTC Branch 1.

The people charge that the government “action to demolish and evict the petitioners without consultation and more importantly, without any provision for adequate relocation as mandated by the Constitution and Republic Act 7279 also known as Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) is gross violation of the law,” said Atty. Bienvenido A. Salinas 2nd, coordinator of the legal unit of Urban Poor Associates (UPA), St. Thomas More Law Center. “It also runs afoul of the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),” he added.

In a meeting with the residents held in Brgy. 734 last January 24, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza promised that there would be no demolition as he looked for a relocation site.

SAINT appealed anew last February 21 in a letter to Mayor Atienza to halt the demolition. “Dumating na po sa sukdulan ang pinangangambahan namin. Hirap, pagod, gutom at takot na kami. Ikaw lang po ang makakatulong sa aming problema sa ngayon,” the letter read.

Atty. Christine Anne Marie R. Alcazar of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) issued a certification dated February 23 saying that MMDA and DPWH has not applied for a Certificate of Compliance (COC) for the February 27 demolition of some 54 families under the bridge.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Executive Order No.152 designated the PCUP as the sole clearinghouse for the proper conduct of demolitions and evictions involving the homeless and underprivileged and establishing a mechanism to ensure strict compliance with the requirements of just and humane demolition and eviction.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued last January their Pastoral Statement for this year saying: “We call on those concerned to stop uncaring evictions and demolitions. We have laws in the land that tell us the proper processes for eviction. Let these laws be respected and followed, especially by law-enforcing agencies.”

Urban Poor Associates (UPA) is a non-government organization established to assist urban poor people in eviction crises, educate families in housing rights matters and upgrading of poor communities. -30-

For interviews with Urban Poor Associates (UPA) or additional information please contact UPA’s Media Advocacy Officer, John Lagman on (632) 4264118.

6,000 voters in Makati denied right to suffrage?

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6,000 voters in Makati denied right to suffrage?

15 February 2007. As politicians prepare for May elections, former railway dwellers in Makati City who were relocated at the Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao, Laguna are facing a legal battle to preserve their right to vote.

Up to 6,000 voters may be denied the vote this upcoming election due to the largest displacement of people in the history of the Philippines, according to the Urban Poor Associates (UPA).

This developed after petitions for exclusion of voters has been raffled off and assigned to Judge Roberto Buenaventura of Branch 63 and Judge Carlito Calpatura of Branch 62 of the Makati City Metropolitan Trial Court. Judge Buenaventura will hear a case starting today, while Judge Calpatura will hear the other cases starting tomorrow.

Respondents were former residents of Barangay Magallanes, Bangkal, Pio del Pilar and San Antonio along the PNR railway tracks.

Petitioner Edgardo Collado and Oscar Ibay filed the petition February 2. The petitioners argued that respondents, having permanently transferred their residence, their names should be cancelled and excluded from the list of voters considering that they have ceased to be bona fide residents of Makati City.

One of the basic human rights recognized in the international instruments of human rights is the right to vote as guaranteed by the Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The said right is reiterated in Article V of the Philippine Constitution.

“Libo-libong relocatee ang hindi makakaboto dito dahil ayaw silang pabotohin sa Makati at hindi naman sila registered sa Cabuyao. Ang Comelec dito, sa haba ng pila, alas kwatro pa lang ng madaling araw sarado na dahil 300 lang kasi ang pwedeng magparehistro bawat araw. Isa pa kailangan ng 6-month residency para makapagparehistro,” said Estrella Terencio, president of UPSAI. “Ang kailangan namin dito ay special registration dahil sa 7,000 families na na-relocate dito halos kalahati ay di pa nakapagparehistro.”

The respondents appeal to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) invoking their right to vote. “Sana ay mabigyan sila ng special consideration dahil hindi naman nila ginusto ang kanilang kalagayan. In the first place, the laws are made for man and to protect his/her right,” said Atty. Bienvenido Salinas 2nd, coordinator of UPA’s legal unit, St. Thomas More Law Center.

In a demolition drive that began since early 2005 and still continues in Pandacan, more than 145,000 people (29,000 families) have already been evicted from their homes in Metro Manila and Bulacan due to the rehabilitation of the Philippine railway system.

To 26 year-old Marnellie Buenviaje, there is almost no reason to be happy on Valentines Day. “Last year masaya, kasi kasama ko ang asawa ko. Pero ngayon ang hirap, wala siya, wala akong katuwang sa pagpapalaki sa mga anak ko. Pero kapag pinanghihinaan ako ng loob, kawawa ang mga anak ko.”

Buenviaje’s husband died in a motorcycle accident last year right before her family was relocated beside a dumpsite in Southville as part of the government’s Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project. Instead, the single mother of 3 spent her Valentines with a paralegal training seminar held yesterday in Cabuyao for the Urban Poor Southville Association Inc. (UPSAI).

Members of UPSAI sought the help of Urban Poor Associates (UPA) regarding their security of tenure, problems on distant relocation and basic services.

UPA research reveals that most of the evictees have been moved to relocation sites where living conditions are appalling due to a lack of basic services such as potable water, electricity, transport, medical, education and livelihood programs.

The dengue outbreak and unsanitary conditions in Southville have claimed the lives of 15 children. “This contradicts the promise of politicians in their manifesto and platform in the recent elections. Those are promises believed to have garnered electoral support among poor,” the UPA said in a statement.
Urban Poor Associates (UPA) is a non-government organization that concentrates on evictions of urban poor people and upgrading of poor communities. -30-
For interviews with Urban Poor Associates (UPA) or additional information please contact UPA’s Media Advocacy Officer, John Lagman (632) 4264118.

Housing Problems highlights CBCP’s latest pastoral statement

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Housing Problems highlights CBCP’s latest pastoral statement

29 January 2007. “Binabati namin po kayong lahat sa oras na ito. Kung sino man ang maawa sa amin. Hihingi po kami sana ng tulong pang-dagdag pamasahe sa Cagayan Valley. Dito lang kami kalsada natutulog. Wala kaming tahanan. Kaya gusto naming umuwi na.”

These are the words written beside a “kariton” which is home for 1 ½ year old baby Sharon and 6 more children of Antonio and Cristy Bautista. “Pinaalis kami ng may-ari ng bahay sa Payatas kaya andito kami ngayon sa kalsada. Pag gabi sa City Hall kami natutulog. Pero gusto na naming bumalik sa Amulong, Cagayan,” said 44-year old Antonio, a scavenger.

Bautista Family is only one of the increasing number of street families in Metro Manila caused mainly by forced evictions and illegal demolitions, according to the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization working on housing rights issues.

“For more than 5 million people in Metro Manila, there is literally no place like home because they do not have decent housing, clean inexpensive water, sanitation drainage, security of tenure, health care, good schools and employment. Hence they live in squalor unfit for human beings,” the UPA said in a statement.

Lack of adequate housing highlights a key concern for Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) this year in a Pastoral Statement signed yesterday by CBCP President Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo.

"Any person or family that, without any direct fault on his or her own, does not have suitable housing is the victim of an injustice," the pastoral statement read.

“We call the attention of our people to a grave problem that many, especially among the urban poor, suffer the lack of adequate housing. Their inadequacy breeds other problems such as immoralities in the home, the abuse of children, the lack of education of many young people, unhygienic conditions in the family, joblessness among the people, malnutrition of children, and criminality,” said Archbishop Lagdameo. “We call on those concerned to stop uncaring evictions and demolitions. We have laws in the land that tell us the proper processes for eviction. Let these laws be respected and followed, especially by law-enforcing agencies.”

UPA’s annual demolition report shows the following:

•From January to December 2006 some 7,635 families lost their houses due to demolitions.

•Some 261 families or 3.41% did so due to court orders.

•Government did most of the demolitions. Local government units demolished the houses of some 1,102 families (15.37%), while the University of the Philippines in Diliman demolished the houses of some 166.

•National government agencies ordered the demolition of the houses of some 6,034 families: PNR and NHA some 4,500 families, the DPWH some 800 families, the Philippine Army and MMDA some 806 families.

•Five demolitions involving 1,911 families (25%) were violent.

Conclusion:

From 2001 to 2004, the number of demolitions in Metro Manila went down. This coincides more or less with positive developments in 2001 to 2003 when government allocated urban lands for socialized housing through presidential proclamations and some reforms in the government’s community mortgage program.

As shown in Urban Poor Associates’ monitoring of demolitions in Metro Manila since 1996, the number of demolitions went down during national elections (1998, 2004) and EDSA II.
Metro Manila

YEAR No. of Demolitions Number of FamiliesAffected Comments
1996 72 6,975 APEC-related demolitions to beautify Metro Manila
1997 16 8,067 Sta Elena Compound,Binondo, R-10, Sitio Mendez, Smokey Mountain
1998 20 3,882 National election
1999 36 7,873 New Bilibid Prison eviction of land invaders; more demolitions in private lands than government
2000 29 6,059 Pasig River, Flood Control, R-10
2001 13 2,073 EDSA II. PGMA instruction no demolition without in-city relocation, a defacto moratorium on demolitions
2002 15 1,043 PGMA instruction no demolition without in-city relocation, a defacto moratorium on demolitions
2003 26 4,315 MMDA clearing operation
2004 8 925 National Election
2005 26 2,074+ 20,000 (north rail in Valenzuela and Bulacan)=22,074 families Northrail Project
2006 Jan to December 7,635 Southrail project, Fort Bonifacio proclaimed lands, R-10

The demolitions in 2006 marked the almost complete turn around of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from its pro-urban poor stance in 2001: no more violent demolitions, in-city or near city relocation and on-site development through presidential proclamations and the community mortgage program. From pro-poor to anti-poor, as most in civil society organizations would say today.

In 2005 and 2006, a number of church leaders, including Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, became alarmed with the way the government implemented its north and southrail linkage project. Taking up the issues of the affected families, they wrote to the president and to the vice president.

-30-

For interviews with Urban Poor Associates (UPA) or additional information please contact UPA’s Media Advocacy Officer, John Lagman on 632) 4264118

Urban Poor Associates

25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.

Telefax: 4264118 Tel.: 4264119 / 4267615

Ref: John Francis Lagman

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlagman17

Urban poor hit Mayor Atienza for illegal demolition

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Urban poor hit Mayor Atienza for illegal demolition

23 January 2007, Manila. “Mabuti pa ang basura may paglalagyan, kami wala.”

Angry urban poor residents branded as illegal the demolitions being conducted by the City Engineering Office of Manila on their settlements under Quezon Bridge in Quiapo a week after the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Black Nazarene.

With armed police escorts, the demolitions took place catching the residents by surprise since there were no demolition notices. People say they felt betrayed because most of the residents supported Mayor Lito Atienza during the past elections.

The city government has been doing it for several days beginning last week as part of its Quinta Market renovation project. They want to transfer the market vendors under the bridge as well as demolish the houses of the residents, according to Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization working with urban poor issues.

“About 100 families were forced to live in the streets because demolished residents do not have temporary shelter. Many children have stopped schooling and are exposed to vehicular accidents,” said Teodoro Añana, UPA deputy coordinator.

Five-year old John Joshua Pangan, one of the demolished residents, was still at the Popular Memorial Chapel in Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz as of today because his family cannot afford the funeral expenses worth 20,000 Pesos. Pangan was a victim of hit and run in Palanca Street last Saturday and was declared dead upon arrival at the Philippine General Hospital. The jeepney driver who tried to escape from the vehicular accident was caught and detained in Traffic Bureau, Pier Area.

“Patay na yung nanay ni John Joshua at yung tatay naman ay walang pambayad dahil nagsa-sidecar lang. Isa pa, walang pagbuburulan dito dahil may demolisyon. Halos lahat nga dito ay pakalat-kalat, walang mahigaan kaya sa bangketa na lang natutulog,” said 57-year old Mercedes Ruiz, a resident under the bridge since birth.

Ruiz pleaded that the homes of remaining 200 families be spared from the on-going demolitions until a relocation site is given. She also worries about displacement from their livelihood.

Last November 22, the local government of Manila demolished the houses of some 50 families in the same community. City hall did not secure a certificate of compliance from the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) prior to the demolition as required by Executive Order 152 of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, according to Onesimo Foundation, a non-government organization helping streetchildren.

“The Urban Settlements Office did not conduct consultations, neither did it provide relocation to the affected families as required by section 28 of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA), said Daniel Wartenweiler, coordinator of Onesimo Bulilit. -30-

For interviews with Urban Poor Associates (UPA) or additional information please contact UPA’s Media Advocacy Officer, John Lagman on (632) 4264118

TRO sought against MMDA, DPWH to stop eviction

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TRO sought against MMDA, DPWH to stop eviction

17 January 2007, Manila. Fighting for their right to put roofs over their heads, informal settlers are seeking a temporary restraining order against Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Dir. Josefino Rigor of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prevent their eviction and the demolition of their houses located under San Andres Bridge 1 along South Super Highway, Paco, Manila.

The settlers composed of 54 families who live for more than 14 years at the community located along Estero Tripa de Gallina, a jurisdiction of Brgy. 734 and Brgy 735, filed their petition for a TRO and preliminary injunction January 12 at the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Based on a raffle held last Monday, the presiding judge who would handle the case is Judge Tita Bughao Alisuag of RTC Branch 1, according to the Urban Poor Associates (UPA) in a statement.

Led by Alberta Abenaza, president of Samahan ng mga Taga Ilalim ng Tulay Neighborhood Association (SAINT), ten petitioners have executed their sworn statements that beginning in October 2006 MMDA and DPWH threatened and continue to threaten to demolish their homes without offering relocation sites.

“Ang aming pamilya ay nangangamba na baka sa anumang oras ay sapilitan kaming paalisin sa aming tinitirhan. Mahigit anim na taon na naming nilalakad ang ibat-ibang ahensya ng ating pamahalaan para mabigyan na kami ng relokasyon subalit wala kaming nakuha kundi puro pangakong walang kasagutan. Hirap na hirap na po kami. Nawawalan na po kami ng pag-asa,” said Abenaza.

Through petitioner’s representations with its officials, MMDA has deferred its plan to evict plaintiffs but with a promise and assurance that it will pursue its plan to demolish and evict the plaintiffs pursuant to its beautification program “Metro Gwapo”.

DPWH, on the other hand, without any written notice and dialogue with the petitioners, has verbally informed the residents that it will demolish the petitioner’s houses due to the repair of the bridge.

“Respondents intended action to demolish and evict the petitioners without consultation and more importantly, without any provision for adequate relocation as mandated by the Constitution and Republic Act 7279 also known as Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) is gross violation of the law and it runs afoul with the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),” said Atty. Bienvenido A. Salinas 2nd, coordinator of UPA’s legal unit, St. Thomas More Law Center.

UPA is a non-government organization established to educate families in housing rights matters and assist communities in eviction crises. It has helped thousands of families to relocate in-city or at least prevent the never-ending cycle of homelessness. -30-

For interviews with Urban Poor Associates (UPA) or additional information please contact UPA’s Media Advocacy Officer, John Lagman on (632) 4264118

MANILA'S POOR REENACT JOSEPH AND MARY'S SEARCH FOR SHELTER

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MANILA'S POOR REENACT JOSEPH AND MARY'S SEARCH FOR SHELTER

Manila, 18 December 2006. One day after the Church’s massive protest action against Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass), over two thousand urban poor people marched along the streets in Manila repeating the question asked by Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem: "Do you have a decent place where we can stay?"

Led by giant puppets of Joseph and Mary, urban poor people marched from GOMBURZA Plaza to Padre Burgos Avenue and along the Street of Gen. Luna in Intramuros today beginning 9:00 in the morning. Participants include children, old people, victims of demolitions, scavengers, relocated railroad families, leaders of people’s organization, various non-government organizations, urban poor friends and sympathizers from all over Metro Manila.

Organized by the Urban Poor Associates (UPA) and the Task Force Housing Rights along the Railways (Task Force Riles), the 20th annual celebration of Panunuluyan (Re-enactment of search for an inn) ended at the Manila Cathedral where His Eminence Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is the main celebrant. But Cardinal Rosales was getting well in a hospital, so mass was concelebrated with Fr. Benito B. Tuazon and 2 other priests from the Manila Archdiocese.

Priests greeted the marchers on the steps of the Cathedral. The marchers also include a donkey and the Blessed Mother in a scavenger’s pushcart.

During the mass, urban poor boys and girls from Baseco act out the Nativity story. The theme of this year’s Panunuluyan is ‘Toward the Church of the Poor’. The Philippine Church has as its goal to be the Church of the Poor.

Fr. Tuazon in the homily expressed Cardinal Rosales’ Christmas message to the poor. "Gustong-gusto niya talaga kayong makapiling, kaya lang di pwede," he said, "Pero sa aking pagkakakilala sa kanya, more or less, alam ko na kung anong gusto niyang sabihin sainyo. Gusto niyang sabihin na mahal na mahal niya kayo."

Fr. Tuazon had been helping railway dwellers that were relocated to the shabby Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao, Laguna since he was a parish priest of St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori in Magallanes until his new appointment July 10 as spiritual director of the Archdiocese’ Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

"Ang mga maralitang tulad nyo ay tinuturing na kayamanan ng Simbahan. Ang tunay na nakakaunawa sa Panunuluyan ay kayo sapagkat alam niyo kung ano ang kahirapang pinagdaanan ng ating Mahal na Birhen, si San Jose at ng ating Panginoong Hesus sa paghahanap ng matitirhan," Fr. Tuazon said.

In the traditional Panunuluyan custom, Filipinos go to houses where they ask for shelter for Mary. They are turned away at each house until they end up at the local church. It compares the suffering of the urban poor people, who are also affected by homelessness, with Joseph and Mary.

Despite Church efforts, the number of homeless people and forced evictions remains high, according to UPA, a non-government organization working with urban poor issues.

“More than one-half of the metropolitan area's 11.3 million people live below the poverty level, and more than 5 million people in Metro Manila do not have decent housing. The poor spend 100 pesos a day on food for families of 5 or 6. This hardly seems enough for a family,” the UPA said in a statement.

Three Catholic Bishops, including Cardinal Rosales, have criticized the government’s eviction practices along the railroad.

“Panunuluyan is the urban poor’s expression of desperation and a sign that government have failed to ensure their housing needs. And yet it is also a sign of hope – that God will touch the hearts of government officials so that these leaders may ‘rule this country righteously and the poor with justice’,” said the Task Force Riles.

Last December 5, the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), an international non-government organization, named the Philippines as recipients of the group's 2006 Housing Rights Violator Awards. It accused the government of severe human rights violations for systematically violating housing rights and continued failure to abide by local and international legal obligations. -30-

MEDIA ADVISORY: PANUNULUYAN NG MGA MARALITANG TAGALUNGSOD with Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

PANUNULUYAN NG MGA MARALITANG TAGALUNGSOD with Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales
“TOWARD THE CHURCH OF THE POOR”

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA) and the Task Force Housing Rights along the Railways (Task Force Riles) request your presence at the 20th annual celebration of Panunuluyan (Re-enactment of search for an inn in Bethlehem) to be held on December 18, 2006 (Monday). Cardinal Rosales will say the mass and lead the celebration.

Led by giant puppets of Joseph and Mary, over 2,000 urban poor people will march from GOMBURZA Plaza to Manila Cathedral (and from Baseco and Tondo to the Manila Cathedral) beginning 9:00 in the morning. Participants include children, old people, victims of demolitions, scavengers, relocated railroad families, leaders of people’s organization, urban poor friends and sympathizers from all over Metro Manila.

Cardinal Rosales will greet the marchers on the steps of the Cathedral then lead them into the church. The marchers will also include a donkey (4 Baseco boys), the Blessed Mother in a Kariton and an Ati-atihan band.

During the mass children will act out the Nativity story. They will present special gifts at the offertory. After the mass there will be a salu-salo, games and Christmas carol contest in Plaza Roma.

The theme of this year’s Panunuluyan is “Toward the Church of the Poor.” The Philippine Church has as its goal to be the Church of the Poor.

Photo ops: Present day “Mary and Joseph” search for inn
Blessed Mother in a scavenger’s kariton
Nativity story portrayed by urban poor boys and girls
Cardinal at salu-salo after the mass
Poor people’s games, songs, etc.


Program of Activities

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Assembly at GOMBURZA Plaza opposite Old Senate Bldg., along Padre Burgos Street, Manila

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. March along Padre Burgos, turn right at Gen Luna Street, then to Manila Cathedral

10:00- 11:30 a.m. MASS, His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales

11:30- 2:00 p.m. Salu-salo, games and carol contest in Plaza Roma


If you require further information please contact UPA’s Media Advocacy Officer, John Lagman on (+632) 4264118