MEDIA ADVISORY: KALBARYO NG MARALITA 2008

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

KALBARYO NG MARALITA 2008

KATOTOHANAN KATARUNGAN PANANAGUTAN PAGBABAGO

In observance of the Holy Week, the urban poor are celebrating their annual “Kalbaryo ng Maralita” on March 18 (Tuesday) and this year it is done in partnership with farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous people, formal and informal labor groups.

The Kalbaryo reminds Philippine society that the suffering of Jesus in His Passion and death are repeated today in the suffering imposed on the poor by forced evictions, homelessness, hunger, landlessness, injustice, joblessness, lack of dignity and powerlessness. “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me” (Mt. 25)

The Kalbaryo will begin at the Philippine National Railway (PNR) España Station (just South of España Ave.) and end with Mass at San Sebastian Church with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and priests at about 12:00 noon.

Over 1,200 poor people from different parts of Metro Manila and farmers, including those from Sumilao, Bukidnon and the Yulo estate in Laguna will gather at the railroad station at 8:00 AM and march towards Loreto Church, Mendiola and San Sebastian Church, following the traditional stations as they go.

The Kalbaryo will begin on the railroad tracks to remind everyone over 100,000 families have been or will be evicted from the railroad right of way from Clark Field to Calamba to prepare for the Northrail and Southrail Projects. Many have not received decent relocation.

Urban poor issues are contained in the CBCP Pastoral Statement on Homelessness of January 2007, namely, forced evictions, upgrading of urban poor areas and funding for Community Mortgage Program and other programs that help the urban poor. Farmer issues include continuation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with reforms, and justice in special cases, for example, Sumilao and Hacienda Yulo.

Photo ops: The procession will be led by 7 men bearing the crosses of the poor families. There will be photo ops at the Stations of the Cross along the way.

Date: March 18, 2008 (Tuesday)

Time: Gather at 8:00 AM

Assembly point: Philippine National Railway (PNR) Station, España Avenue


URBAN and RURAL POOR SOLIDARITY

Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition, Urban Poor Alliance, Pambansang Ugnayan ng mga Nagkakaisang Organisasyon sa Kanayunan, Sumilao Farmers, Task Force Mapalad, Kilusang Mangingisda, KAMMMPI, Mamamayan para sa Pagpapaunlad at Pagpapanatili ng Lawa ng Laguna, Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise Foundation, Urban Poor Associates, Community Organizers Multiversity, PHILSSA, PARRDS, R-10 Navotas Alliance, ULAP, Kabalikat-BASECO, SAPAR-South Rail, Manila Estero Informal Settlers Alliance, Samahan ng taga Estero Pasay, Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Batilyo-Navotas, Malabon Brgy. Volunteers Asso., NLU-KAAKBAY, NLU-FTA, AIWA/PMA, Women Health, Stop Laiban Dam Coalition, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Haydee Yorac Movement, PADAYON, Partido Manggagawa

3/16/2008 03:35:00 PM

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‘No demolition without relocation’ - PGMA

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‘No demolition without relocation’ - PGMA

1 February 2008. In a meeting hosted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday, the government has assured Metro Manila’s urban poor groups, people’s organizations, non-government organizations and Church leaders that demolitions would no longer be allowed unless there is a relocation site ready for affected families.

Also present were Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairman Percival Chavez, National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Federico Laxa and other agency representatives.

President Arroyo announced that P4 billion pesos will be allocated for housing. She said there should be social preparation period for those who will be relocated and people should not be caught off guard or by surprise by not giving them any notice or very late demolition notice. A 45-day notice will be given to informal settlers whose shanties are up for demolition.

The president preferred in-city or near-city relocation sites to distant relocation. She said Montalban, for example, which has been suggested by the poor as a relocation site, should be considered a better option than Calauan, Laguna because it is much nearer.

The president also said she was open to in-city relocation. She instructed NHA General Manager Laxa to talk to the mayors of Taguig and Navotas about in-city relocation and to Mayor Pedro Cuerpo of Montalban about near-city relocation.

When asked to continue proclaiming land for the urban poor, the president said she would not do so now but would first develop the areas already proclaimed, meaning the 80 or so proclaimed sites with approximately 200,000 families will be upgraded and given basic services like water light,sanitation, drainage, roads and day care centers.

Jeorgie Tenolete of the people’s organization KABALIKAT mentioned the fear Baseco people have of being evicted because of a plan to develop Baseco into a commercial area. President Arroyo repeated several times that Baseco is for socialized housing and that the government is even reclaiming more land as part of it and the people should not worry.

Asked about the demolition by soldiers at Sitio Masagana in Taguig City, the president said the military like all government agencies is bound to follow the laws on eviction and relocation.

With the help of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) particularly Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao and Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong, urban poor leaders belonging to the Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition (TF-AID) and Urban Poor Alliance (UP-ALL) were able to meet the President Thursday afternoon at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang.

TF-AID was formed in answer to the growing number of illegal evictions by various people’s organizations and NGOs such as Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation, and Urban Poor Associates (UPA).

TF-AID wants a halt to forced evictions without relocation and the preparation of adequate relocation sites for those who are evicted.

Last year some 9,637 families lost their houses due to demolitions, according to the UPA annual eviction monitor. This is 26% more than the number of evicted families in 2006. “The two electoral events in 2007, the May 14 national election and the Barangay election in October, did not seem to have an impact on the number of evictions, unlike in 2004 where the number of demolitions dramatically went down,” said Ted Añana, deputy coordinator of UPA. About 40% of the 9,637 families were evicted without relocation. -30-

‘Have pity’ poor families appeal to PGMA in face off

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Have pity’ poor families appeal to PGMA in face off

30 January 2008. Backed by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), urban poor leaders will have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Heroes Hall in Malacañang where they hope to discuss forced evictions, inadequate relocation and land proclamation issues.

The meeting resulted from a consultation between urban poor groups and the CBCP held last week at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila.

Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan of Tuguegarao and Bishop Ramon Villena of Bayombong offered to arrange a meeting with President Arroyo through the Office of the Religious Affairs in Malacañang.

Urban poor groups want a halt to forced evictions, specifically those done by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the preparation of adequate relocation sites for those who are evicted.

They want the President to condemn the practice of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando for his failure to relocate families he has evicted.

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA) eviction monitor for the first month of 2008 shows some 1,800 families have already been left homeless after being forcibly evicted.

A group called Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition (TF-AID) warns of massive demonstrations in Metro Manila if their requests will fall on deaf ears. TF-AID was formed by various people’s organizations and NGOs such as Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation, and UPA.

The group agree with the words of Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales in a sermon delivered to urban poor on the Paco Estero during the Feast of the Holy Family. “There should be no violence. No one should use violence. There should be no intimidation, no use of arms. We will obey, but we don’t want to be forced or subjected to violence. If government evicts it must prepare relocation sites. This is what we say, the site is prepared when there are houses, roads, light, water, schools for the children, and travel to work must be easy.”

Jose Morales, one of the urban poor leaders who will meet the President, said it is time to stop the social injustice being experienced by urban poor. “Panahon na para wakasan na ang pagiging berdugo ng maralita ni Bayani Fernando. Panahon na para igalang ang batas tulad ng Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA).” Morales represents the Urban Poor Alliance (UP-ALL) and the Ugnayang Lakas ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybaying Ilog Pasig (ULAP).

Prescilda Juanich, a representative of Samahang Pinagbuklod ng Pagkakaisa, said she is excited because it is her first time to set foot in Malacañang. “Idol ko si Gloria, senador pa lang siya hanggang sa naging vice president. Pero ngayon nagdadalawang isip ako dahil pakiramdam ko pinapabayaan ang hanay ng maralita. Patuloy ang proyekto pero walang nilalaan na relokasyon sa mga taong apektado tulad ng road widening project sa R-10 Navotas ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).”

“Labag sa batas at labag din sa inuutos ng Pangulo sa kanyang Executive Order 152 ang ginagawa ng MMDA. Utos mismo ng Pangulo, di sinusunod ni Bayani,” said Soti Sabarre, spokesperson of TF-AID. “Kung binabalak na maging presidente ni BF dapat ay tigilan niya ang mararahas at iligal na demolisyon. Kung hindi ay titiyakin ng mga maralitang tagalungsod na sa kangkungan siya pupulutin pagdating ng eleksyon.” Fernando has said he plans to run for the presidency.

The President proclaimed urban land for about 200,000 families 2001-2003, but almost none since.

-30-