3 Metro Manila urban poor communities face threats of bloody demolition

By Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY)

Quezon City, Philippines—Three urban poor communities are set to be demolished this week in Quezon City to pave way for corporate takeover. Urban poor groups said the Philippines' richest city has continued its rampage against informal settlers as three slum areas are in threat of demolition today or anytime this week.

According to Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), the national association of urban poor communities all over the country , two of urban poor communities in the city are to be wiped out to give way to Quezon City Central Business District/ The two urban poor areas are Sitio San Roque in North Triangle, with a population of not less than 7,000 families, and a smaller community along BIR road in the East Triangle are already dressed with streamers with calls against demolition. Physical barricades are also in place along Agham road and BIR road to thwart the demolition expected to be carried out by city authorities anytime today.

Residents in another urban poor community in the Novaliches area of the city Kadamay said they are also on high alert today as the deadline for 12 families to vacate their homes has expired yesterday. They will be the first among the 300 families in Sitio Looban, Brgy Kaligayan who will be dislocated to give way to Bistek Ville II, a local housing project of the QC LGU, supposedly for the urban poor.

Barricade at Agham Road and EDSA

Hundreds of residents in Sitio San Roque, considered ‘illegal settlers’ by the National Housing Authority (NHA), have received notices of eviction last Nov 15. These residents, who some have stayed decades in San Roque as renters, have built new structures after the owners of their homes relocated to Montalban.

September 23 Movement, a local alliance in San Roque, has vowed to fend demolition team starting today. According to Estrelieta ‘Ka Inday’ Bagasbas, a community leader, “thousands of demolition squad and the police are needed to overcome the strong defense prepared by the residents to protect their community.”

This morning, North Triangle residents hold a noise barrage at Agham road and EDSA while waiting for the demolition team. The fierce resistance of the residents to leave the community mainly due to to the ‘unacceptable and deadly’ relocation program offered by the government have delayed the schedule of the construction of the said business district.

Barricade along BIR road

Meanwhile, residents along BIR road also fear for a possible demolition of homes this morning as negotiation with the office of City Mayor on the road widening of BIR road ended in a deadlock. Residents believe that the real issue behind the demolition of their homes is the implementation of QCCBD.

BIR community like the rest of communities in the North and East Triangle was razed by big fires recently. The latest to experience such is the community along NIA. And instead of offering food, NHA have handed out notice to fire victims instructing them take the relocation in Montalban. The residents in BIR road are on-standby against demolition as early as 8am.

Barricade along Quirino hi-way Most of the residents of Sitio Looban, on the other side of the city, are not qualified to avail of the said housing program for they are not SSS nor Pag-Ibig member. “Even if we get qualified, how can we afford the P2,400 monthly amortization for a single unit?,” asks Virginia Restuan, Kadamay leader in Sitio Looban.

A mass is held at the community barricade as the residents wait for the demolition team. According to their leader, the residents of Sitio Looban have long been preparing for the worst to come, even if the Christmas season is up coming. “The QC demolition men do not care whether its Christmas time or not, with or without court order, so we have prepared our 3-layer of human barricade to fend them off our community,” Restua says.

“We call on Herbert Bautista to stop pretending to be pro-poor. Stop using the urban poor to sugarcoat his anti-people and pro-capitalist programs, which include the Socialized Housing Tax ordinance. We believe QC is the worst place for an urban poor family to live in, despite the fact that it is one of the riches cities in the country,” says Sisel Cari, chairperson of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay)-Quezon City Chapter.

Carlito Badion, convenor of Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon says the agony of the urban poor only worsens as the government continues its demolition rampage of urban poor communities in favor of the big businesses. “We challenge the national government to stop the demolition of homes of urban poor communities nationwide, and that justice be served for those who become victims of the greed of the few,” Badion says.

“The urban poor have suffered long enough. Each time a house in an urban poor community is torn down, and a familiy becomes homeless, it seems nothing is wrong because it is the government who leads the misconduct. Aquino’s penchant for big businesses at the expense of the thousands of hapless urban poor is truly unbearable. It has to be stopped,” Badion ends. ###