Cardinal Rosales concerned on plight of urban poor

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Cardinal Rosales concerned on plight of urban poor

15 April 2007. With only one month left before the midterm elections, thousands of urban poor families are once again plagued with the problems of distant relocation, forced eviction and of demolition by fires, and so are trying to solve the problems they face by seeking the help of Catholic Bishops from Malolos, Bulacan to San Pablo, Laguna.

Among those who have offered to help the families along the railways, waterways and R-10 Navotas is His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. At a meeting this afternoon held at the Manila Archbishop's residence in Arzobispado de Manila, the Cardinal was asked to write a letter to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and urge her to meet with representatives of the people affected.

The poor families will ask the President to order the national agencies involved, especially the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to stop evicting poor families if there is no relocation.

“If you cannot relocate, do not evict. It is clear that the national government agencies and some mayors are evicting poor families by the thousands without providing relocation. This happens more frequently now than at any time since the passage of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA),” the urban poor families said in a statement read at the end of the meeting.

Such a practice violates the Constitution, the UDHA, and the United Nations covenants that the government has signed, according to the statement read by Alicia Murphy of the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that accompanied the people. “It causes terrible suffering: poor families are forced to live literally on the streets. Their children fall sick with colds and rashes. The children and the aged suffer most of all. It is a traumatic experience for school children.”

The families also oppose distant relocations. The main relocation site on the Southrail is in Cabuyao, Laguna which is 50 km. from Manila. Wage earners cannot commute because the one-way transportation cost is P70. They either give up their jobs in Manila, or divide the family between Manila and Cabuyao—workers and college students in Manila, women and children in Cabuyao. This causes extra expenses of two households and has bad effects on family life. On average, families in Cabuyao now have P2,000 less each month than they did in Manila. Many problems persist in the Cabuyao relocation area after nearly 18 months occupancy. Only 5% of families have deep well, metered water, for example, and some people do not feel it is safe to drink the water (See Southville, Cabuyao Update on http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlagman17).

The poor families will ask the president to order the National Housing Authority (NHA) to allow alternative sites and transfer the needed funds.

Peoples’ groups in Taguig and Manila destined to be transferred to Cabuyao have taken initiatives to find alternative relocation sites. In the case of Taguig it is the cluster housing of Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga. In Manila the alternative site is Montalban. “Mayor Tiñga and Mayor Pedro Cuerpo of Montalban have agreed to accept the families from the railroad on condition that the NHA turn over to them the funds budgeted for relocation. Despite many appeals NHA refuses to do so,” the poor people said.

The Cardinal may also ask the president in his letter to decree that fire victims must be given the option to return to the area where their homes were prior to the fire.

Fire and demolitions are the mortal enemy of the urban poor, according to UPA. “There is still no overall policy for fire victims. They are often told they cannot go back to the area where they lived. Like evicted people who are not given relocation, fire victims are relegated to the streets.” -30-

Cardinal Rosales asked to stop imminent eviction of poor families

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Cardinal Rosales asked to stop imminent eviction of poor families

Thousands of urban poor families who are facing imminent threat of forced evictions due to the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project have found an advocate in Catholic Bishops from Malolos, Bulacan to San Pablo, Laguna. Among these advocates is His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales who has offered to help them in a meeting to be held at the Arzobispado de Manila on Sunday, April 15, 2007 (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM).

More than 145,000 people (29,000 families) have already been evicted from their homes in Metro Manila and Bulacan since early 2005 due to the rehabilitation of the Northrail and Southrail. The government's relocation lacked clean water, electricity and often were very far from the city, making it inconvenient for residents to find any form of livelihood.

A total of 914 families living along waterways have also been evicted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) since February this year. Most of these evictions turned violent and almost no relocation were provided. Thousands of urban poor families in R-10 Navotas face similar threats.

The Government of the Philippines was recently given one of three Housing Rights Violator Awards for 2006 for its forced evictions in the name of ‘beautification’ and ‘development’.

Date: April 15, 2007 (Sunday)

Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Venue: Arzobispado de Manila, 121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila

Bishop Iñiguez comes to the aid of railway families

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Bishop Iñiguez comes to the aid of railway families

Thousands of urban poor families who are facing imminent threat of forced evictions due to the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project have found an advocate in Caloocan Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez Jr. who has offered to help them in a meeting today, April 11, 2007 (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM) to be held at the PNR Auditorium, PNR Centre, Torres Bugallon, Sangandaan, Caloocan City.

More than 145,000 people (29,000 families) have already been evicted from their homes in Metro Manila and Bulacan since early 2005 due to the rehabilitation of the Northrail and Southrail. The government's response was to create relocation sites. These relocation sites, however, has no clean water, no electricity and very far from the city, making it inconvenient for residents to find any form of livelihood.

Greater engagement is needed between government, NGOs and urban poor communities to develop alternatives to evictions and to encourage development that promotes basic human rights. Hence, a dialogue was arranged between affected families and line agencies to discuss the impending eviction and alternative relocation.

Date: April 11, 2007 (Wednesday)

Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Venue: PNR Auditorium, PNR Centre, Torres Bugallon, Sangandaan, Caloocan City

COHRE with International Human Rights Experts Urged the Philippine Government to Respect the Human Rights of the Poor and Halt Mass Forced Evictions

**COHRE/UPA Joint Media Release**

COHRE with International Human Rights Experts Urged the Philippine Government to Respect the Human Rights of the Poor and Halt Mass Forced Evictions

3 April 2007. Mass human rights violations such as forced evictions and the destruction of housing continue unabated in the Philippines, warns the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), and its team of international human rights experts at a joint media conference in Quezon City this morning.

COHRE, the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), and experts from Cambodia, Indonesia, Australia and South Africa are concerned about widespread housing rights violations, after visiting residents at the Southville relocation site in Cabuyao, Laguna yesterday. The team of experts also visited families evicted from their homes along the waterways and railroad tracks in Manila.
More than 145,000 people (29,000 families) have already been evicted from their homes in Metro Manila and Bulacan province since early 2005 due to the rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railway system, referred to as the ‘Northrail-Southrail’ Linkage Project. A total of 914 families living along waterways have also been evicted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) since February this year, and another 500 families face the threat of imminent eviction.

Dan Nicholson, Coordinator of COHRE’s Asia and Pacific Programme, said, “All those who participated in the COHRE-led fact-finding mission were visibly moved by the desperate circumstances of the affected communities. It is clear that basic international human rights on forced evictions, and the law of the Philippines, have not been complied with. We trust that the relevant Philippine authorities will look into prosecuting those responsible for breaches of the law.”

Nicholson added, “Philippine governments at both national and local levels have repeatedly chosen to overlook the human rights of citizens by carrying out arbitrary forced evictions. The evictions have caused thousands of urban poor to lose their homes and livelihoods, and left them destitute. It is of great concern that these evictions continue to take place throughout the Philippines.”

Teodoro Añana, Deputy Coordinator of UPA, said, “Greater engagement is needed between government, NGOs and urban poor communities to develop alternatives to evictions and to encourage development that promotes basic human rights in the Philippines.”

Last December, the Government of the Philippines was given one of three Housing Rights Violator Awards for 2006 by COHRE, for the forced eviction of hundreds of thousands of people in the name of ‘beautification’ and ‘development’, with the urban poor being the worst affected. COHRE, and its team of international experts, stand by these findings, despite the denials of the Philippine government.

COHRE, UPA and the international team of experts call upon all levels of government in the Philippines to:
Halt all evictions along the railway lines, unless adequate relocation sites are found with the consent of affected communities;
Ensure that existing relocation sites are safe, secure and healthy, and that undertakings previously made by government to affected communities are fully implemented;
Halt all evictions along the waterways in Metro Manila unless domestic and international housing rights standards are fully complied with;
Invite the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing to conduct a mission to the Philippines immediately. -30-

For interviews or additional information please contact:
UPA: +632 4264118 / 4267615

MEDIA ADVISORY: COHRE / UPA Media Conference

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

COHRE / UPA Media Conference

The Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) and the Urban Poor Associates (UPA) requests your presence at a joint media conference in Treehouse on Tuesday, 3 April 2007 (10.00 AM) to reveal the findings of a COHRE-led fact-finding mission to the Philippines. The fact-finding team will visit the relocation sites of those evicted from their homes due to the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project. COHRE’s team of Human Right’s experts will also release their findings on the recent evictions that were carried out on the South Superhighway Bridge in Manila and the San Andres Bridge 1 on the Osmena Highway, Paco, in late February this year.

Mr Dan Nicholson, the Coordinator of COHRE’s Asia Pacific Programme who will lead the fact-finding mission, will be speaking at the media conference. The Government of the Philippines was the recipient of the “Housing Rights Violator Award” at the 2006 COHRE Housing Rights Awards in December 2006. The award was delivered to publicise the findings of COHRE’s extensive research in the area of international housing rights, and highlight cases for concern. The award was widely covered in the international and local media including Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France Presse, BBC World Service, Voice of America, the Manila Times, the Philippine Star, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, etc.

PHOTO OPS: “Kamatayan” will portray how forced evictions destroy poor people’s lives.

Date: April 3, 2007 (Tuesday)

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

Venue: Treehouse, 29 Matalino Street, Central District, Quezon City

Lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the media conference.

If you require further information please contact UPA on 632-4264118.

Bishop criticizes heartless evictions of waterways dwellers

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
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Bishop criticizes heartless evictions of waterways dwellers

23 March 2007. “Kahit na mahihirap iyan, kahit na ang kanilang lugar ay hindi dapat tirhan, mga tao iyan. Yung nakakalungkot, mahirap na yung mga tao, pahihirapan pa.”

These are the words how Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Chairman of the CBCP Housing Committee, sees the problem of poor families who were dislocated due to forced evictions and illegal demolitions along Estero de Paco, Estero Tripa de Gallina and Estero de Pandacan.

More than 1,000 families living along esteros which cover at least 15 barangays stretching from United Nations Avenue up to Osmeña Highway have found an advocate in Bishop Pabillo, who has offered to help them in a press conference held this morning at the Arzobispado de Manila.

“Kailangan sana ang pamahalaan natin ay sumunod sa batas. Kasi may batas naman tayo tungkol sa pagtatanggal ng mga tao at ginawa iyan upang igalang yung mga tao sa kanilang karapatang pantao. Dapat sana sa pagtanggal sa kanila, ilikas na may matitirhan pagkatapos,” Bishop Pabillo said.

While having a meeting with MMDA and other government officials yesterday, Bishop Pabillo received a text message regarding an on-going demolition in Pasay City. “Habang pinag-uusapan namin ang mga problema ng demolisyon, abala naman ang MMDA sa pagdedemolis. Ang gubyerno mismo ay hindi tumutupad ng batas,” Bishop Pabillo said.

Beginning February 27, settlers along waterways are being forcibly evicted by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). With no other place to go, these settlers were left homeless and so have made their makeshift tents on sidewalks along the streets.

As she cries, Catherine Arquero of Barangay 734 narrated her demolition story: “Marso 1 nang dumating sa aming lugar ang MMDA. Wala silang sinanto ni isa man sa amin, bagkus kami ay pinagnakawan pa. Wala rin silang pakialam sa mga kasangkapang aming napundar sa mahabang panahong pag-iipon, winasak po nila ang mga ito at itinapon sa ilog. Marami sa amin tinutukan ng baril, pinagmumura na parang hayop. Mula ng kami ay giniba hanggang sa kasalukuyan kami ay nasa kalye. Marami na sa mga bata ang nagkakasakit dahil sa init ng araw at lamig ng gabi. Wala po kaming mga banyo sa kalye. Ngunit ang labis ko pong kinababahala ay ang aming kaligtasan. Kami po ay sa gilid ng Osmeña Highway natutulog.”

“None of the 914 families evicted from waterways were relocated after often violent demolitions. Another 500 families are also on the same fate. The evictions were illegal since the MMDA failed to comply with guidelines on the conduct of demolitions,” according to Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that helps poor families in eviction crises.

“The law requires that families evicted from government land must be given decent relocation,” said Atty. Bienvenido Salinas II, coordinator of UPA’s legal unit, St. Thomas More Law Center.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued on January 28 a Pastoral Statement on the Nation’s Housing Problems. The CBCP calls for a stop to uncaring evictions and demolitions and asks that laws be observed in the proper processes of eviction. “We cannot afford to be indifferent and complacent in front of this grave injustice…While Filipinos are getting known all over the world as good construction workers and builders, we are not able to provide houses for our homeless.”

"The bishops were able to publicize the issue, but they have not been able to influence government to take decisive steps to stop demolitions or provide better relocation," the UPA said in a statement.

The Philippine government suffers a severe backlog to housing, one of the most difficult social problems that UPA blame on officials' insincerity and lack of political will. “Many politicians are only playing on the basic needs of the poor people and cuddle them in pursuit of election victory,” the UPA added.

To survive in cities, poor people end up at garbage mounds, canals, or vacant lots, where they patch together shanties of wood, galvanized iron and other scraps. Regarded as an eyesore, however, these communities are always dismantled whenever cities pave the way for beautification and soulless development projects. -30-

MEDIA ADVISORY: RESIST FORCED EVICTIONS!

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

RESIST FORCED EVICTIONS!

Poor families who were dislocated due to forced evictions and illegal demolitions along esteros have found a savior in Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who has offered to help them in a PRESS CONFERENCE to be held at the Arzobispado de Manila on Friday, March 23, 2007 (10:00 AM).

More than 1,000 families living along esteros which covers 14 barangays stretching from United Nations Avenue up to Osmeña Highway are being forcibly evicted by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and are virtually dumped on the streets due to lack of relocation site.

With no other place to go, these settlers have made their makeshift houses along the streets near their demolished houses in Estero de Paco, Estero Tripa de Gallina and Estero de Pandacan.

The people affected will present the problems. The law requires that families evicted from government land must be given decent relocation.

Photo ops: Children will re-enact the violent MMDA demolitions.

Date: March 23, 2007 (Friday)

Time: 10:00 AM

Venue: Arzobispado de Manila 121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila