Residents, NGOs to government: Are you killing the R10 Navotas children?

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Telefax: 4264118 Tel.: 4264119 / 4267615

Ref: John Francis M. Lagman
http://jlagman17.blogspot.com/
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**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **
For Immediate Release on May 26, 2006

Residents, NGOs to government: Are you killing the R10 Navotas children?

Demolished residents along R10 Road, Sitio Sto. Niño, Puting Bato in Navotas has called on the government to address immediately the concerns of evicted families before another tragic death of a child happens.

Seven-month old Ariel Porras drowned in a canal after falling from their makeshift shanty at the dawn of Wednesday, May 24. His parents, Gina and Archie Porras, built a shanty along the sidewalk of R10 Road as they were not given relocation following the demolition of their house last Thursday, May 18. The wake of the child can be seen in the Navotas Freedom Park, beside the Navotas Municipal hall, where some 25 evicted families have also sought refuge.

Gina, the mother of the baby, blamed the demolition for the death of her child. “Bigla-bigla ang demolisyon. Padilim na nang giniba ang aming bahay. Halos hindi na kami makatulog mula noon dahil sa pag-aalala sa mangyayari. Wala kaming masilungan, una sa kalsada kami tapos nakapagtayo kami ng kubo-kubo, nangyari naman ito” she said.

Meanwhile, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and NGOs such as Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) Foundation and Urban Poor Associates (UPA) ask the government to provide adequate relocation to the evicted families. “The government should look into the situation of the evicted families. It did not relocate the evicted families who are now living on the streets, exposed to the elements. These are gross violations of domestic laws such as the Urban Development and Housing Act as well as international treaties like the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Philippine government has ratified.”

Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization dealing with issues directly affecting the lives of the poor, conducted research in demolitions. Its research showed that women and children, like the families recently evicted from R10 are always the most vulnerable during demolition. Hundreds lose their homes and their source of livelihood. This violates the international principle that no demolition should render anyone homeless, according to Teodoro Añana, coordinator of Eviction Watch of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) demolished some 807 families in Sitio Sto Nino, Puting Bato in Navotas along R10 beginning May 18 to give way for a 32.5-meter road-widening project from Maralla Bridge to C-4. Hundreds of demolition crews from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), escorted by police officers and SWAT personnel armed with high-powered rifles implemented the demolition activity with the use of bulldozer, mechanical backhoes and other heavy machinery.

Samahang Maralita Nagkakaisa ng R10 (SAMANA-R-10), the people’s organization, demands justice from the government. “Trinato nila kaming parang mga hayop! Sila mismo ang hindi sumusunod sa batas. Lahat na ng paglabag sa Republic Act 7279 o Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) ay ginawa nila,” said Elita Nalda, president of SAMANA.

According to SAMANA-R-10, DPWH used this so-called demolition/resettlement ploy by threatening people with forced evictions and at the same time offering them with small amounts of money, or threatening them with forced evictions while offering to resettle them in sites that are very inadequate and far from areas where they could get jobs like Bitungol in Norzagaray, Bulacan. However, the implementing agency asks the affected families to sign waivers absolving government of its obligations to provide adequate relocation. “This is satanic in its ingenuity since blame is now on the poor people for ‘freely’ agreeing to something that is disadvantageous or bad for them.” -30-

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

The EKK’s quest for the future
by Billy Bernaldez

Sometimes, Mayet Betaloso could still recall the children’s voices while playing in the shabby streets of the late Baseco Compound in Port Manila. Screaming and laughing… although in reality, their worn faces showed what they have suffered from four- simultaneous- fire that razed their homes yearly since 2002 to 2005.

But now, she could breathe lighter than before as she glimpse a little hope for the realization of the dreams of these children, when a tutorial program was established at Baseco Compound which was the Edukasyong Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran (EKK). EKK aims to break the cycle of poverty through education.

Initiated through the help of KABALIKAT, a local organization that intends to improve the lives of Baseco families, the project was initially financed by an international social foundation for its implementation. It includes the rental fees of a small classroom, procurement of the chairs, tables, facilities and for the salaries of the teachers hired.

“Karamihan sa mga bata dito, pagkagaling sa paaralan ay naglalaro sa mga estero at kanal ng mga kalye. Kaya nga kami ay natutuwa at kahit papaano ay meron ng pupuntahan na maayos na lugar yung mga bata,” (Most of the children here, after schooling, are playing in the canals of the streets. That is why we are so glad now that there is a good place where the children can go) says Jeorgie Tenolete, president of KABALIKAT.

Since 2003, EKK had invited many children, mostly from the lower sections of Grade five and six with general average of 79 and below, from Herminigildo Atienza Elementary School (HAES) to attend the tutorial class. However, due to the small area of the classroom and the immense number of enrollees, EKK could accommodate students only for a limited time per day.

“It is good that many children were enrolled in the program though we know that we could never accommodate them all. What is important is that the program would help this children tap their educational incompetence,” Betaloso said, one of the founder of the EKK.

But unfortunately, the EKK noticed that there is something wrong happening with the children. Last July 2005, the EKK had 130 initial numbers of registered pupils; but as the months passed, this number was reduced, till then there’s only 35 pupils left at the end of the school year.

One of the main problems sighted by the EKK regarding this problem is poverty. The parents, instead of sending their children in tutorial class after schooling in HAES, sent their children to work where they can to earn additional money for their living.

“Many children do not really work after all. They were so young to finance their family’s living. What they actually do is play on the streets which makes them less-educated. That is why the EKK made some actions to remedy the situation.” says Laarni Salanga, teacher of the EKK tutorial class and educational consultant of the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization working with the urban poor.

But things get worst when another problem arose. Lately, they asked the HAES administration to help them identify low-comprehended pupils to be brought in the tutorial classes, however, just July last year, the public school renounced its support.

“I was so sad, in behalf of the EKK program, when I learn that the school doesn’t want to help us anymore. Perhaps, they misinterpreted the strategy we are using to give responsibility for parents to send their children in the tutorial program,” Salanga said.

Salanga said that the reason why the school withdraws its cooperation is because of the 15 pesos fee that the EKK collects on each pupil every month which started since July 2005. She stressed that parents are not forced to pay this fee and that it was only a way to encourage them to send their children in the tutorial class. And as a matter of fact, from their record, out of 50 parents who agreed to pay the fee, 12 paid for the first month while only four completed the payments for the school year.

The school however did not accept the explanation of the EKK.

The HAES reasoned out to EKK, that the public school should not collect fees from the parents of their pupils. The school administration doesn’t want to intrude the transaction anymore because they are afraid that the school might be sued for this collection.

“The parents have already understood the purpose of the fee and there is nothing malicious about it. I know that the school would cooperate if they can only understand the needs of under-achievers and the importance of tutorial classes,” Salanga said.

The argument was brought by the EKK to the District Supervisor of Manila, however, the school is firm with their stand not to render any help unless the P15 fee will be abolished.

Presently, the EKK has already stopped their pursuance to seek help from the public school (although a little support from them will be a great help for the program and for the Baseco children). What the EKK program is hoping for is that somehow the said school will help these poor children achieved their dreams.

“I want to be a Computer Engineer in the future. If there would still be a tutorial class to help me, maybe I could do it,” says Jun, a graduating student in HAES.

EKK was still there to give hope for the realization of the dreams of the Baseco children. -30-

The longing tears in the railway
by Billy Bernaldez

“It is not the house that counts, nor the comfort of it…it is the life that is at risk - on how we will continue to live without our jobs.”

These are the words uttered by Lola Virginia Bernardo, 65 years old and a grandmother of three. “I’m willing to live anywhere together with my family, just to be assured that we could really survive,” she said.

Lola Virginia had been living as informal settler along the railway tracks of Brgy. 807 in Vito Cruz, Manila since 1998. She is aware that they are illegally residing the place but she has no other choice at that time; either to lie barely on the freezing ground of hi-ways and boulevards, her family have chosen to place their home beside the railway - even if it also means putting their lives at stake.

Her husband died due to a disease called Emphysema the year 2000. Since then, together with her son, granddaughters and a grandson, they faced the dilemma of living in the city.

“Sometimes, I sell vegetables in Paco, Manila. My son advised me to stay at home, to rest due to my old age…but I have to work. Besides, my two granddaughters are studying in elementary and his income will never sustain us all,” Lola Virginia said.

Her son works from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. as an FX driver in Manila enduring the heat during daylight at work to supply their family’s needs. However, although he is working hard, thrice a week, his daily income would still be hard to accommodate them all. That is why Lola Virginia would still want to work to fill that necessity.

But things went wrong when the homes of railway families in Makati City started to be demolished last January. More than 2,000 families were relocated to Cabuyao Laguna. She was informed that the government has a plan to renovate the area (including theirs) to launch a huge project. With this happenings, she was really scared stiff.

“I began to loose hope when I heard that we are going to be displaced to Cabuyao. I couldn’t sleep at night. My close friends who have already got there said that they have so many difficulties. I couldn’t imagine what will happen to us there,” Lola Virginia said in a trembling voice.


The NSLP

Lola Virginia is only one of about an estimated 150,000 to 180,000 urban poor families that will be displaced in different relocation sites from North Rail and South Rail tracks. Some 21,000 families (18,000 along the North Rail and 3,000 along the South Rail) have already been displaced.

This huge displacement of urban poor families and the continuous clearing of Northrail and Southrail in Manila are the effects brought by the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP), a joint project initiated by the Arroyo Administration and the Korean Export-Import Bank. The plan consists of two stages: The Phase 1 which starts from Caloocan along Manila, Makati, Tagiug, Parañaque and Muntinlupa and the Phase 2 which is in Laguna, from San Pedro, along Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao and Calamba.

The Phase 1 of the project will span 32 km. from Caloocan City to Alabang in Muntinlupa City. The project, with an approved budget of P27 billion will be interconnected to NorthRail, LRT 1 and 2 and MRT 3. This was seen to load about 187,000 passengers daily with 16 number of station to be served.

The Phase 2 of the project is an advance proposal seen to begin on 2008, which involves 25.90 km. stretching from Alabang, Muntinlupa to Calamba, Laguna. This will affect about 11,000 poor urban families along the railways.

Way back to railway

Aling Josephine Ibardolaza, 45, scans the extended horizon covered by broken bricks. Not anything will be seen standing in both sides of the railways, except for a Balete tree and some people standing distantly - people who have once dwell their lives in the place and hoping to turn back the time to live there again.

Aling Josephine and other poor families were relocated at the Cabuyao resettlement area. And now they are returning to their places in the railways even though they were not allowed by the government to stay there again.

“We have to leave Cabuyao because that is the place of hunger. We already have our houses there but we don’t have jobs to feed ourselves,” said Luz Ibardolaza, one of the relocatees who returned to San Antonio in Makati City.

Luz Ibardolaza, 61, has two daughters and 11 grandchildren. All of them, together with other 20 families, including two babies, are now residing under the bridge of San Antonio beside a polluted canal. There were threats from the MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) that they will be expelled on the said place because the bridge was still covered by the project.

“We would rather choose to live here even it was so dangerous and uncomfortable. The sources of our income were here in the city and we need it for us to survive,” Luz Ibardolaza said.

The family of Ibardolaza works throughout in the streets of Makati and Manila everyday. Most of them are vendors of fishballs, vegetables and fruits while others are just scavenging the trash for them to survive.


A call to remember

One of the great problems faced by the evicted families on the resettlement area is their livelihood, which is the reason why many of them return to the railways. The government did not offer them any means for livelihood. They also stressed that due to far distance of the relocation area from the Cabuyao town proper (which means a need to pay P40 back and forth for their fare), they could do no more but to return in their lost jobs in Makati City.

At first, each displaced family received P50,000 for the building of their own houses - P10,000 for the labor and P40,000 for the housing materials. They have to finish building their houses in 10 days because the tent, which they temporarily used as a shelter, will be returned to the National Housing Authority (NHA) after the due date.

But then a problem arises when they started constructing their houses. Lola Luz Ibardolaza said they realized that the money handed to them would be used only for the building of their houses. And since many of them do not have the knowledge to build cement structures, they have to throw the P10,000 for the labor, means, there were no allotted budget for their food.

“We’re penniless at those times. We need to eat that is why we need money. And even though we have something to eat, it was not permanent, we need a job and that is what we couldn’t find there,” said Lola Luz Ibardolaza.

Last April 14, hundreds of urban poor families relocated in Cabuyao, Laguna held a protest rally. The rally was named “Kalbaryo ng Maralitang Tagalungsod” (Calvary of the Urban Poor) to call on the attention of the government, particularly the NHA to address their concerns: Potable water, electricity, education, food, transportation, health and livelihood.

“There is water but it’s not potable; there is no electricity; there stands the school but there were no facilities and teachers; the people could work but there is no job. So how can these people survive? These are the basic needs that every individual needs and the governments’ responsibility to provide,” said Jazel Virtuzio, administration assistant of Urban Poor Associates (UPA). UPA is a non-government organization established to educate poor families in housing rights matters.

It could be remembered that the Arroyo Administration assured the people during her election campaign that she would give 10 million jobs for the poor. However, until now, poor people were still asking if they really heard the said pledge or perhaps it’s just one of their illusions.

“The informal dwellers in the railways were already below the poverty line. They really need help and they are the one who needs much attention. I think the government is really sleeping and needs to be disturbed,” Denis Murphy said, executive director of UPA.

Today, the poor families, especially in the railways are still looking for some way to wake the government, to look over them. Not just to observe them dying, but to help them solve the dilemmas that they are now experiencing.

“We are hoping that the government somehow will see our situation. We are helpless at this time. Just give to the poor people their needs…nothing more,” Luz Ibardolaza said. -30-

Manindigan! Ipaglaban ang makataong relokasyon!

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

Ref: John Francis M. Lagman
http://jlagman17.blogspot.com
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STATEMENT*** PRESS STATEMENT*** PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release on May 20, 2006

Manindigan! Ipaglaban ang makataong relokasyon!

Ang dignidad ng tao ay hindi maaaring bayaran. Hindi tama kailanman, lalo na sa pamahalaan na may pananagutan sa kabutihan ng lahat na hindi pansinin ang mahirap na kalagayan ng napakaraming tao at pamilya na napilitang manirahan sa lansangan o magkasya sa miserableng barung-barong na tirahan.

Kaming mahigit 800 pamilya sa R10, Sitio Sto. Niño, Puting Bato sa Navotas ay walang-awang dinemolis ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) simula noong Huwebes. Daan-daang demolition crews mula sa Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), kasama ang mga armadong pulis, ang nagsagawa ng sapilitang ebiksyon gamit ang bulldozer, back hoe at iba pang heavy machinery.

Ayon sa ating Saligang Batas, hindi dapat paaalisin ni gigibain ang mga tirahan ng maralitang tagalungsod maliban kung naaayon sa batas at sa paraang makatarungan at makatao. Hindi dapat ilipat ng tirahan ang mga maralitang tagalungsod nang walang sapat na pagsang-guni sa kanila at sa mga pamayanang paglilipatan sa kanila. (Art. XIII, Sek. 10, 1987 Saligang Batas)

Ito ay pinagtibay ng Seksyon 28 ng RA 7279 o Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992. Ayon sa UDHA, pinahihintulutan ang demolisyon ngunit sa pagsasagawa nito ipinag-uutos ang sapat na relokasyon.

Kami ay nanawagan sa pamahalaan na ipatupad sa makataong paraan ang mga ebiksyon at tiyakin ang sapat at angkop na relokasyon.

Maraming demolisyon ang isinasagawa sa pagpapalagay na dapat alisin ang mga maralita sa isang lugar, ngunit naglalagay lamang sa kanila sa higit na mapanganib na kalagayan.

Malinaw na ayon sa batas at mga alintuntunin nito, ang bawat maralita ay may karapatan laban sa sapilitang paglilikas at karapatan sa maayos at sapat na relokasyon.

Subalit paano kung ang pamahalaan na dapat magpasunod ng mga batas ay siya ang pangunahing lumalabag nito? Walang malinaw na relokasyon sa amin. Hindi nasunod ang UDHA. Walang financial at food support, walang suporta mula sa LGUs. May mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao.

Kami, kasama ang mga NGOs na tumutulong sa amin, ay kinokondena ang pagwawalang bahala ng pamahalaan sa mga pangunahing pangangailan ng mga pinalayas at ipinagtabuyang pamilya. Labis na kaming naghihirap, bakit pa kami lalong pinahihirapan? Paano na ang pag-aaral ng aming mga anak? Paano na ang kanilang kinabukasan?

Ginagamit lamang ng DPWH ang isang taktika/sistema na nakagawian nang gawin ng gubyerno sa bawat maralitang pamilya. Pagbabantaan ng sapilitang demolisyon kung hindi aalis. Bibigyan ng maliit na halaga upang lisanin ang tirahan. Pangangakuan ng relokasyon ngunit sa liblib na lugar gaya ng Bitungol, Norzagaray, Bulacan. At papipirmahin sa isang waiver na nagtatangal sa kanilang obligasyon para sa sapat at makataong paglilipatan. Sa ganitong paraan ang may kasalanan, kung sakaling lisanin ang relokasyong ipinagkaloob sa kanila ay ang mga maralita na siyang malayang sumang-ayon na ipahamak ang kanyang pamilya sa hindi nararapat at angkop na paglilipatan.

Nakagawian na itong gawin ng pamahalaan, paspasan, kahit na malabag ang mga karapatan sa maayos na paninirahan at karapatan bilang isang tao, isang mamamayang sa kanyang maliit na kakayahan ay bahagi rin ng pag-unlad ng bansa. Hindi ito kailanman magtatagumpay. Lumilikha lamang ito ng mas maraming problema/suliranin gaya ng mga taong napipilitang tumira sa mga kalsada, ilalim ng tulay, sementeryo at kung saan-saan pa.

Sana ay gamitin ng gobyerno ang paraang makabubuti sa mga maralita, paraang maka-Diyos at makatao. -30-

Residents, NGOs condemn DPWH and MMDA on unlawful demolition along R10 Navotas

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

Ref: John Francis M. Lagman

http://jlagman17.blogspot.com
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**NEWS RELEASE***NEWS RELEASE***NEWS RELEASE**
For Immediate Release on May 20, 2006

Residents, NGOs condemn DPWH and MMDA on unlawful demolition along R10 Navotas

Some 807 families residing along R10 Road in Sitio Sto. Niño, Puting Bato in Navotas were forcibly evicted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) beginning Thursday to give way for a 32.5-meter road widening project from Maralla Bridge to C-4. Hundreds of demolition crews from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), escorted by policemen and SWAT armed with high powered rifles, implemented the demolition activity using a bulldozer, 2 back hoes and other heavy machinery. When some residents resisted, policemen fired warning shots while others pointed their guns at the people.

Samahang Maralitang Nagkakaisa R10 (SAMANA), the people’s organization, issued statements to condemn the demolition and the government's insensitivity to the needs of evicted families. “Walang malinaw na relokasyon. Hindi nasunod ang Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA). Walang financial at food support. Walang suporta mula sa Local Government Units (LGUs). May mga human rights violations,” the SAMANA said.

Only 561 of the 807 families will be entitled to relocation because the rest failed to be included on the 2001 Census made by DPWH, the SAMANA said. Hence, many evicted families have been living on the shabby sidewalks of Radial R10 Road following the demolition of their houses. “Sana ay mabigyan din kami ng malilipatang bahay malapit sa trabaho at iskwelahan,” said 35 year old Perla Filipinas, mother of five.

According to SAMANA, DPWH used the tactic of threatening people with forced evictions while at the same time offering them small amounts of money, or threatening them with forced evictions while offering to resettle them in sites that are very inadequate and far from areas where they could get jobs like Bitungol in Norzagaray, Bulacan. But the implementing agency asks the affected families to sign waivers absolving government of its obligations to provide adequate relocation.

Meanwhile, non-government organizations (NGOs) such as Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise (COPE) and Zone 1 Tondo Organization (ZOTO) condemned this tactic of the DPWH which will place the blame on the poor people for "freely" agreeing to something that is disadvantageous or bad for them while at the same sowing enmity among the people between those who “volunteered” and those who refused to waive their human rights.

Caloocan Bishop Degracias Iniguez visited the demolition site and telephoned MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernandez to ask him to stop the demolition but was refused his request. Last Monday a dialogue was held at the parish of Fr. Alan Lopez in Dagat-dagatan and the DPWH agreed to suspend the demolition for three days until Friday. However, on Thursday afternoon the MMDA began the demolition operation.

A year ago the affected residents had meetings with the DPWH during which they rejected its financial offer of P15,000 for each family. They said they preferred relocation to a site in Bagong Silang in Caloocan. The DPWH offered Bitungol in Norzagaray, Bulacan which the people said is too far and without work opportunities. Moreover, the P15,000 offer of the DPWH is also below the UDHA standard of sixty days worth of daily minimum wage amounting to P18,000.

As defined by domestic laws, international treaties and covenants, adequate relocation means decent and habitable houses provided with basic services such as water, electricity, roads, continuity of education for the children. -30-

Urban Poor sumugod kay Kabayan
(Cardinal Rosales sinermunan si VP de Castro)

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

Ref: John Francis M. Lagman
http://jlagman17.blogspot.com/
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**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE **
For Immediate Release on May 15, 2006

Urban Poor sumugod kay Kabayan
(Cardinal Rosales sinermunan si VP de Castro)

“Sa riles di kami pulubi; Gutom sa relokasyon; Kamatayan = Cabuyao; Kaunlaran para sa lahat hindi ng iilan.”

Nag-aapoy sa galit na sumugod ang mahigit 600 pamilyang apektado ng demolisyon mula Caloocan City hanggang Los Baños Laguna sa tanggapan ng Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chair, VP Noli de Castro sa lungsod ng Makati. Naubos na umano ang kanilang pasensya sa pagbabalewala sa kanila ni Kabayan.

Nagkaroon ng pagpapahayag ang Koalisyon ng mga Samahan sa Riles-Katimugan sa pamamagitan ng street play. Sila ay gumawa ng maliit na tren upang ipakita kung paano nito winawasak ang kanilang buhay.

Ayon sa kanila, kalunus-lunos ang kanilang kalagayan sa relocation site sa Cabuyao, Laguna. Dahil walang kuryente, walang malinis na tubig na maiinom, malayo sa iskwelahan ng kanilang mga anak at higit sa lahat ay nawalan sila ng hanapbuhay dahil malayo sa dati nilang pinapasukan sa kanilang nilipatang tirahan magmula nang sila’y i-demolish ng pamahalaan. “Sana ang pamahalaan ay maging maka-Kristiyano at makatao kung magta-transfer ng mga tao galing sa riles,” pahayag ni Estrella Terencio, residente ng Southville.

Pinalala pa ng hagupit ng bagyong Caloy ang kanilang sitwasyon, hanggang ngayon ay tent lamang ang tirahan ng iba sa kanila at hindi pa nasisimulan ang paggawa sa kanilang lilipatan.

Kaugnay nito, nanawagan si Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales na itigil muna ang demolisyon hanggat hindi pa talaga nakahanda ang paglilipatan sa mga maaapektuhan. Tila nabigyan ng pag-asa ang mga taga-riles at nagpalakpakan nang basahin ang liham ni Cardinal para kay Kabayan.Umaasa sila na dahil may suporta ng simbahan, sila ngayon ay haharapin na ni VP de Casro.

Ngunit hindi sumipot si Kabayan, kaya kinausap na lamang nila si Atty. Pamela Yabut, legal counsel ng HUDCC. Ayon kay Alicia G. Murphy, project officer ng Urban Poor Associates, magkakaroon ng pag-uusap sa Miyerkules kung maaari ang in-city relocation sa Taguig, gaya ng mungkahi ni Cardinal. Subalit hindi aniya masasagot ni Atty. Yabut kung ititigil ang demolisyon sa Maynila upang maisaayos muna ang relokasyon sa Laguna.






Sa kanyang sulat pinayuhan ng Cardinal si VP de Castro na pag-isipang maigi ang mga plano ng gubyerno ukol sa malawakang pagre-relocate ng mga mahihirap sa malalayong lugar. Kailangan aniya na hanggat maaari ay malapit sa hanapbuhay, ibig sabihin ay in-city relocation. “We have to look again at our priorities. Do they reflect the Christian social teaching?,” pahayag ng Cardinal sa kanyang liham kay VP de Castro.

Ito ang pangalawang beses na kung saan ang isang Obispo ay nanawagan para itigil ang demolisyon. Ginawa rin ito ni Bishop Jose Oliveros ng Malolos noong October 2005.

Tinatayang 50,000 pamilya ang palalayasin sa riles mula Caloocan City hanggang Calamba para mabigyang daan ang rehabilitasyon ng Philippine National Railway (PNR), ayon sa Urban Poor Associates o UPA, isang non-government organization. Tinatayang 22,000 pamilya na ang na-displaced dahil sa Northrail at Southrail project ng pamahalaan (18,000 sa Northrail at 4,000 sa Southrail).
Ilang beses nang humingi ng tulong kay Kabayan ang mga mahihirap subalit ayon sa kanila ay wala namang aksyon. “Patuloy s’yang nagbibingi-bingihan! Wala s’yang ginagawa para solusyunan ang aming mga karaingan!” -30-

DEMOLITIONS TROUBLE CARDINAL
(Cardinal Rosales to VP de Castro: Stop Demolition)

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

Ref: John Francis M. Lagman
http://jlagman17.blogspot.com
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May 13, 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

DEMOLITIONS TROUBLE CARDINAL
(Cardinal Rosales to VP de Castro: Stop Demolition)

Hundreds of railway dwellers will rally at the office of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chair VP Noli de Castro at the Atrium Building, Makati Avenue in Makati City on May 15, Monday (9:00 AM) to demand a moratorium on all evictions on the railroad.

The people will bring a letter of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales to VP de Castro suggesting the HUDCC Chair declare a moratorium on evictions until the relocation sites are prepared. They will discuss the problems if the vice president meets them during the rally. Otherwise they will post the letter on a wall.

The people and the Cardinal say the relocation sites are not prepared. They say the moratorium of demolition will give government time to give more care to children’s schooling and to family income in the relocation area, and to help house all people including those who missed cut-off dates. They will also demand HUDCC not threaten or scare people into relocating.

The Cardinal also advises VP de Castro to take another look at distant relocation, for example, in Taguig. This is the second time a bishop has called for a moratorium. Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos did the same in October 2005.

Some 50,000 families stand to be evicted from Caloocan City to Calamba. They are currently threatened with eviction due to the Southrail Project. Some 22,000 families (18,000 on the Northrail and 4,000 on the Southrail) have already been displaced.

The people have constructed their own train. They will show how it destroys people’s lives.

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization working with the poor families, conducted research in North and South relocation sites. UPA found 70% of the relocatees have built their homes but only 50% of them occupy the homes they built at the North relocation sites. Seventy two percent of the respondents in the South relocation site said they experience lack of food, only 36% said they also experienced lack of food on the railway. This is a 100% increase from when they were on the railroad.

The water in the South relocation site is not fit to drink, according to the Biology department of Ateneo de Manila University.


Photo ops: Launching of the railway dwellers’ Salot Train.

EVICTION ANGERS RAIL DWELLERS

Urban Poor Associates

25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

Ref: John Francis M. Lagman
http://jlagman17.blogspot.com

May 11, 2006
MEDIA ADVISORY

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

EVICTION ANGERS RAIL DWELLERS
(Cardinal Rosales to ask for a moratorium)

Hundreds of railway dwellers will rally at the office of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chair VP Noli de Castro at the Atrium Building along Makati Avenue in Makati City on Monday (May 15) 9:00 AM to demand a moratorium on all evictions on the railroad. Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales told the people May 9 he will also ask for a moratorium on evictions.

Railway dwellers will tell the HUDCC that a moratorium of demolition will give it time to give more care to children’s schooling and to family income in the relocation area, and to help house all people including those who missed cut-off dates. They will also demand HUDCC not threaten or scare people into relocating, and to take another look at distant relocation.

Some 50,000 families stand to be evicted from Caloocan City to Calamba. They are currently threatened with eviction due to the Southrail Project. Some 22,000 families (18,000 on the Northrail and 4,000 on the Southrail) have already been displaced.

The people have constructed their own train. They will show how it destroys people’s lives.

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization working with the poor families, conducted research in North and South relocation sites. UPA found 70% of the relocatees have built their homes but only 50% of them occupy the homes they built at the North relocation sites. Seventy two percent of the respondents in the South relocation site said they experience lack of food, only 36% said they also experienced lack of food on the railway. This is a 100% increase from when they were on the railroad.


Photo ops: Launching of the railway dwellers’ Salot Train.


What: Railway Dwellers’ Protest Rally in HUDCC
When: May 15, 2006 (Monday)
Time: The protest rally will start at 9:00 AM
Where: Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council

In front of Atrium Building along Makati Avenue in Makati City

URBAN POOR VS. BAYANI FERNANDO

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2006

URBAN POOR VS. BAYANI FERNANDO

St. Thomas More Law Center, the legal unit of Urban Poor Associates (UPA), with the help of Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) and Economic & Social Rights Legal Advocacy Center, filed a petition before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) to ask for Prohibition with Prayer for Preliminary Injunction and/or Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against respondents [Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and Metro Manila Council] last April 28, 2005.

The hearing on the application for preliminary injunction was conducted today, May 2, 2006 (which started around 9:00 AM) at the Branch 221 of the QC RTC. The plaintiff’s counsel, Atty. Michael Vincent S. Gaddi, presented Nora Balbin, (petitioner/witness) for a direct examination to the presiding judge Hon. Jocelyn A. Solis-Reyes. “The witness justified her affidavit well,” said Atty. Gaddi. The defendant’s counsel, Atty. Magtanggol M. Castro, asked the presiding judge to move the cross examination on June 23, 2006.

The hearing aims to establish Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) entitlement, illegality of demolition and the urgency of situations as to merit issuance of preliminary injunction to forestall any further acts of eviction and demolition, and barring the respondents from using MMDA resolutions 03-96 and 02-28.

On May 28, 2003, at the height of typhoon Chedeng, respondent MMDA personnel, without prior notice as required by law, announced to the petitioners (informal dwellers located along Quezon Avenue in 787 Barangay Sta. Cruz, Quezon City) that it was going to demolish their houses claiming that their houses are within the ten-meter easement as provided in the questioned resolutions.

There and then, using a back hoe and other heavy equipment, MMDA personnel did demolish, destroy and dismantle the houses of the petitioners consisting of fifty houses and structures exposing the petitioners, their families, especially the children to the harsh elements.

The second demolition happened on January 21, 2005. Uniformed MMDA personnel arrived at the scene accompanied by police officers. Just like the first demolition, no sufficient notice was given to the residents whose houses were demolished. The police officers then ordered the MMDA personnel to commence with the demolition and they were able to dismantle seven households. Thereafter, said MMDA personnel even set the dismantled housing materials, clothing and other personal belongings on fire. Likewise, no representative of the local government unit was present to observe the conduct of the demolition.

“The law in this case being MMDA Resolutions 03-96 and 02-28 issued by the Metro Manila Council have been used, abused, misused and overused by the respondents to justify the vicious action taken against the poor. The unjust and inhuman manner of demolition and eviction being practiced by the respondents violates significant constitutional mandates enshrined in the Social Justice provisions of Article XIII, and doesn’t comply with the Section 28 of the UDHA, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),” said Teodoro Añana, coordinator of the Eviction Watch of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR).

The Supreme Court (SC) has spelled out the limits of MMDA’s authority last April 15, 2005. The SC has ruled that MMDA is an administrative agency tasked to coordinate development projects in Metro Manila. The MMDA, according to the SC, is not empowered to pass ordinances and resolutions, and is not vested with even the barest iota of police power. Hence, all MMDA projects, especially those that impose penalties or fines but are not supported by ordinances can be questioned in court. Persons who were victimized by MMDA operations can sue the agency for damages.

“The MMDA, in enacting Resolutions 03-96 and 02-28, acted beyond its designated functions as clearly stated in its charter R.A. 7924. For more than four long years, the respondents, under the pretense of “enforcing the law” and in an arrogant and highhanded manner, have disregard due process, ignored legal protections and trampled upon the human rights of the poor, underprivileged and marginalized – the most helpless and least empowered members of Filipino society. The petition filed against the respondents before the QC RTC aims to remedy this injustice” said Atty. Bienvenido A. Salinas 2nd, coordinator of the UPA-St. Thomas More Law Center.

The petitioners respectfully pray that after due hearing a Preliminary Injunction be issued barring the respondents from enforcing the questioned resolutions. And judgment be rendered declaring MMDA Resolutions 03-96 and 02-28 null and void, permanently enjoining from enforcing the and making the Preliminary Injunction permanent. Petitioners likewise pray for other relief just and equitable under the law. -30-



For more information, please contact:

John Francis M. Lagman

(UPA Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel. 4264118

SAGIP TAHANAN AT KABUHAYAN NG PILIPINAS, INC.
SUMMIT PRESS CONFERENCE 2006

Urban Poor Associates

25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615 Fax: 4264118
*MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY*

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2006

SAGIP TAHANAN AT KABUHAYAN NG PILIPINAS, INC.

SUMMIT PRESS CONFERENCE 2006

SAGIP TAHANAN will examine the many flaws in the government’s housing program for low income families. The theme is: “Maka-Diyos at makataong guidelines ang dapat ibigay para sa pabahay na inutang sa pamahalaan, buong Pilipinas makikinabang.”

There will be an open forum among top leaders from the executive branch, senate, congress, local government units (LGUs), government’s housing institution, developers, non-government organizations (NGOs), Church and media.

The Summit Press Conference will be held at the SSS Auditorium (Bulwagang Pangkomperensiya) in Diliman Quezon City. It will start at 9:00 AM on May 9, 2006 (Tuesday).

The summit press conference aims to gather concern people who can jointly help solve the housing and livelihood problems in this country.

Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization, has been pressing the government to provide adequate housing to poor families affected by demolitions. In this regard, the UPA and some leaders of railway people’s organization will have a meeting with Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales in the afternoon (May 9, 2006), 4:00 PM at the Arzobispado de Manila in Intramuros to discuss the housing issues.

The government will remove poor families along the Northrail and Southrail tracks to give way for its railway modernization project. An estimated 150,000 to 180,000 families will be displaced – a truly record breaking feat in our poor nation’s history of displacements. Some 21,000 families (18,000 on the Northrail and 3,000 on the Southrail) have already been displaced.

However, many families are very dissatisfied with the government’s relocation plans and the methods it uses to get people to move to the relocation site. The government’s Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao Laguna, for example, has showcases of failure because relocated families suffer from its problems on lack of livelihood, potable water, electricity, poor sanitation, schools and health services. Hence, many relocated poor families have chosen to live as slum dwellers once more in Metro Manila than to stay at the shabby relocation site. -30-


MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY
For more information, please contact:

John Francis Lagman (UPA Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel. 4264118

URBAN POOR VS. BAYANI

(QC RTC to junk MMDA Resolutions 03-96 and 02-28)

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

*MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY*

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on April 29, 2006

WHAT: The St. Thomas More Law Center, legal unit of Urban Poor Associates, filed a petition for Preliminary Injunction and/or Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against respondents Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and Metro Manila Council last April 28, 2005 to question the respondents’ power to conduct evictions and demolitions. There will be a court hearing to present the evidence against the respondents and to ask for a preliminary injunction barring the respondents from using MMDA resolutions 03-96 and 02-28.


WHERE: It will be conducted at the Branch 221 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC).


WHEN: The Court hearing will start at 8:30 AM on May 2, 2006 (Tuesday).


WHY: For more than four long years, the respondents, under the pretense of “enforcing the law” and in an arrogant and highhanded manner, have disregard due process, ignored legal protections and trampled upon the human rights of the poor, underprivileged and marginalized – the most helpless and least empowered members of Filipino society. The petition filed against the respondents before the RTC aims to remedy this injustice.

The “law” in this case being MMDA Resolutions 03-96 and 02-28 issued by the Metro Manila Council have been used, abused, misused and overused by the respondents to justify the vicious action taken against the poor. The unjust and inhuman manner of demolition and eviction being practiced by the respondents violates significant constitutional mandates enshrined in the Social Justice provisions of Article XIII, and doesn’t comply with the Section 28 of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESC). ###

For more information, please contact:

John Francis Lagman (UPA Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel. 4264118

Water system in Sauyo urban poor community installed

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Telefax: 4264118 Tel. 4264119 / 4267615

**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE**

For Immediate Release on April 28, 2006

Water system in Sauyo urban poor community installed

Having regular piped water is a wonderful benefit but it is not easy to come by. For poor people like Editha N. Duazo, mother of five, it was a marvelous gift. Duazo, a resident of Area 6 Sauyo in Quezon City, usually spent P1,180 per month for water.

Now after getting piped water from Manila Water, Duazo will only pay P291. She saved 75% of her usual monthly water bill. “Kami ay natutuwa dahil malaking tulong sa amin ang patubig. Ang natitipid ko sa dating pinambabayad ko sa tubig ay pinambibili ko na ng pagkain sa mga anak ko,” she said.

Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization, heads a poor people’s water campaign to get inexpensive piped water. Most poor families usually pay two to three times the legal rate to water vendors otherwise.

Two years ago, the people’s organization, Samahang Magkakapit Bahay (SMB) sa Area 6, asked their Barangay officials to help solve the 19-year old water problem of some 800 families. Without piped water, the residents have to queue to fetch water from a deep well and buy potable water from itinerant water vendors. While a cubic meter of piped water cost only P10, the cost of a cubic meter from some other source is about P100.

However, the Barangay officials did not respond. “It was not easy to install piped water system in Area 6, the cost of the pipe going inside the area cost P2.8 Million, plus charges for the water service connection fee,” the UPA said.

The UPA offered to help them. They discussed their problems through a series of meeting with the people and then write the officials of Manila Water Company, beginning October 2005. After settling the process and the cost of application, the Manila Water personnel started excavations for the piped water system installation on November 7, 2005.

To date, a piped water system for 270 households in Area 6 has been installed. What of the other 530 families living there? It proved too expensive. “Di nakapag-apply lahat dahil marami ang kapos sa pera. Mahal ang bayad sa connection fee,” said Gemma M. Pineda, SMB auditor.

According to UPA, only 20% of urban poor people in Metro Manila have regular piped water services and everyone else gets water at exorbitant prices. “In Sauyo 1/3 of the households did get access but many residents still use expensive water sources because they cannot afford the installation fee for the water service connection, which amounts to P5,177 - P8,101 depending on grouping connections,” the UPA explained.

Former Quezon City Congressman Chuck Mathay’s water development project in four Barangays of the National Government Center Area (Payatas A, Commonwealth, Batasan Hills and Holy Spirit) has benefited thousands of poor families. Funds from the Community Development Fund (CDF) subsidized the water service connections and the residents were allowed to pay over a year instead of the usual three months.

The UPA believed that there has to be political will to solve such problem. “Pro-poor water development projects may be a partial answer,” the UPA added. -30-


For more information, please contact:

John Francis M. Lagman (Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel: 4264118

NHA relocation sites would spell tragedy as it makes poor families poorer

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Telefax: 4264118 Tel. 4264119 / 4267615

**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE**

For Immediate Release 0n April 21, 2006

Railway leaders to NHA officials: NHA relocation sites would spell tragedy as it makes poor families poorer

Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales may be very disappointed when he learns the national government has done little to remedy the weaknesses he pointed out some time ago in the government’s eviction and resettlement program in Cabuyao, Laguna, Urban Poor Associates project officer Alicia G. Murphy said.

At a meeting March 6 with poor people affected by the railroad improvement work and government officials headed by National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Federico Laxa, the Cardinal said the government should give special care to children’s schooling and to family income, meaning jobs.

“Livelihood of the poor must be the prime concern of the government when it relocates people. We cannot bring poor people to a place where there is no work,” the Cardinal said. He asked the government to make sure there was work for the relocated people before they were sent to distant sites.

Studies done for the Urban Research Consortium of the Ateneo de Manila University show family income drops by 40% to 50% when people are moved to distant relocation sites, such as Cabuyao, which is 45 kilometers from Makati where people lived before they were evicted.

NHA assistant general manager Froilan Kampitan told railway leaders April 18 that people from Manila and Taguig would still be sent to distant sites. Some 50,000 families stand to be evicted from Caloocan City to Calamba.

Wage earners stay in Manila because there are no jobs in Cabuyao. This results in two households, one in Manila and one in Cabuyao, and double expenses. There is no part-time work in Cabuyao, such as doing laundry, so the women and children cannot earn part time money.

Estrella Terencio cited several problems at the relocation site particularly the lack of livelihood opportunities, potable water, electricity, schools and health services. She said, “Many of the relocatees suffer due to the poor relocation program. Once relocated, many of the poor families go back to Metro Manila to live as slum dwellers once more because without income they go hungry at the relocation site.”

At the March 6 meeting Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) secretary general Lucille Ortille promised to start the preparations to ensure that displaced students at the relocation site will continue schooling this June. This was one of the Cardinal’s principal worries.

“There will be approximately 4,000 children of elementary school age in the Cabuyao relocation area. The government promises to build all necessary classrooms and provide up to 80 teachers, but many observers doubt classes will begin in June. And what of high school students? They may have to go all the way to Manila,” UPA said.

There are 20 or so classrooms there but now a resident, Antonio Fernandez said “Ang iskwelahan dito walang upuan, walang blackboard at maestra. Wala ring kuryente, tubig na mainom at masyadong mataas ang transportasyon. Kawawa ang mga bata at senior citizen dito.”
The Cardinal also asked government to improve conditions in the relocation area which it is trying to do as well as it can. He also suggested the government not treat its cut-off dates and deadline dates as untouchable entities. He urged government to help house all people including those who missed cut-off dates.

The Urban Poor Associates, a non-government organization that works with the poor families, went to the Microbiology Laboratory of the Ateneo de Manila University to have a bacteriological analysis of water at the relocation site. The result of the evaluation stated that the water sample collected from Block 65 Lot 57 of Southville in Cabuyao contains non-coliform bacteria. It is therefore recommended that the water obtained from this source be boiled for at least 20 minutes before human consumption. Hence, many of the children at the relocation site suffered gastric upset. -30-


For more information, please contact:

John Francis M. Lagman (Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel: 4264118

Central Avenue demolition left hundreds homeless

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.

Telefax: 4264118 Tel. 4264119 / 4267615
**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **

For Immediate Release on April 20, 2006

Central Avenue demolition left hundreds homeless

More than three hundred families residing along Central Avenue in Barangays New Era and Culiat in Quezon City were forcibly evicted by Task Force Control on Prevention of all illegal Structures and Squatting (COPRISS) and Urban Poor Affairs Office (UPAO) barely one day after the Holy Week, April 18. Tensions have run high after a violent confrontation between evicted families and demolition crews. Hundreds of demolition crews boarded on 10 waste collection trucks, escorted by about 50 armed policemen, implemented the demolition activity.

A concerned resident sought the help of Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that helps poor families facing evictions, to immediately intervene over the crisis following the violent confrontation. “The on-going demolition which will last until tomorrow might leave many families, including children and elderly, homeless,” the UPA said.

About 170 families in New Era were evicted. Many felt harassed and violated since there is no prior consultations regarding the process of demolition and the relocation. Some of the residents complained about demolition crews stealing their belongings. They said a policeman fired a warning shot after a resident, enraged over the looting, punched a policeman who had authorized the demolition of his property without the owner’s consent.

The demolition crews, without proper identification cards, started demolishing the houses even at the expense of other people’s housing rights. “Nakikiusap po kami na maghintay lang dahil naghahakot pa po kami ng gamit. Nahulugan nila ako ng matigas na bagay at nasugat ang aking ulo,” said Mrs. Linda V. Matute.

Many have decided to defy the order that they transfer to Towerville in Bulacan after those who tried to do so suffered from its poor condition and lack of livelihood opportunities in the relocation site. Instead, they accepted a P5,000 financial assistance from UPAO and signed a waiver. “Tinanggihan namin ito dahil hindi ito ang inaasahan namin. Nandito lang kami sa kalye, wala kaming pupuntahan higit sa lahat wala na kaming hanapbuhay,” said Jessica Mislan, one of the affected residents.

Meanwhile another 180 families from Culiat were also evicted. They received a demolition notice last February 2 from COPRISS signed by Marlowe Y. Jacutin, head of COPRISS. However, another demolition notice was issued again last April 11, this time with a different signature of Jacutin.

The demolition notice states that the residents violated PD 1096, PD 296, Dept. Order No. 4 Series of 87, City Ordinance No. 2229, 8633, Gen. Order No. 43, City Ordinance No. MC-180, Rep. Act 7279 and MMDA Resolution No. 02-28 Series of 2002.

Some affected families received P5,000 financial assistance from UPAO but there will be no relocation for them.

Other families did not receive financial assistance so they decided to stay amid the ruins of their houses. “Kaya po kami tumira sa tabing kalsada wala talaga kaming matirahan dito kasi kung mag upahan kami, walang pambayad kasi walang trabaho ang asawa ko. Nananawagan po kami na tulungan sana kaming umuwi sa Bohol,” said Elizabeth Bastatas, mother of seven. -30-


For more information, please contact:

John Francis M. Lagman (Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel: 4264118

Urban poor held their calvary to protest the worsening poverty, violence and oppression

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE**

For Immediate Release on April 17, 2006

Urban poor held their calvary to protest the worsening poverty, violence and oppression

The Philippines is Southeast Asia’s largest Roman Catholic nation with a rich cultural heritage. For Filipinos, the observance of Lent and the Holy Week is a time of atonement and sacrifice. The observance is characterized by the chanting of the passion of Christ. Other penitents carry wooden crosses to ask for forgiveness of sins committed, to fulfill religious vows or to express gratitude for favors granted. The reenactment of Kalbaryo (Christ’s passion on the way to the cross) as practiced each year with the staging of the Stations of the Cross continues to be a source of spiritual journey, a continuing tradition of faith.

The Urban Poor Associates, a non-government organization that helps poor families facing evictions, have brought a little twist to these traditions by commemorating a yearly rally called “Kalbaryo ng Maralitang Tagalungsod” (Calvary of the Urban Poor). The first urban poor calvary in 1987 was held around the City of Manila, stopping at several urban poor communities and culminated on top of Smokey Mountain, the man-made dumpsite which became the symbol of deterioration and crass poverty of the country.

This year, however, the protest rally was confined within the government’s shabby relocation site nicely named Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao, Laguna to press the government to immediately address the concerns of the evicted families. Hundreds of poor families dislocated by the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP) held their Kalbaryo April 14, 2006 (Good Friday) to show their sufferings to the rest of the country and protest the worsening poverty, violence and oppression.

The procession led by singers and 7 men each bear the 7 crosses of the poor families. The 7 crosses symbolized evicted families problems on potable water, electricity, education, livelihood, food, transportation and health. They were followed by costumed Jesus Christ, Roman soldiers and Virgin Mary. Prayers, songs and reflection were led by Fr. Tom Steinbugler, SJ and Fr. Pat Kelly, SJ. Urban poor, especially children, reenacted the Kalbaryo.

The Kalbaryo started at 8:00 AM with the staging of the Stations of the Cross in Block 41, 44, 46, 63 and 57. It ended around 10:00 AM at the foot of a fast growing dumpsite, a few meters from the relocation site. The main theme of this year’s Kalbaryo is “Paanyaya sa Daan ng Krus” (Invitation to the Way of the Cross).

The government’s ambition is to remove poor families along the Northrail and Southrail tracks. An estimated 150,000 to 180,000 families will be displaced – a truly record breaking feat in our poor nation’s history of displacements. Some 21,000 families (18,000 on the Northrail and 3,000 on the Southrail) have already been displaced. However, many families are very dissatisfied with the government’s relocation plans and the methods it uses to get people to move to the relocation site.

Metro Manila, with estimated 62% of its population as poor, is a warren of people with nowhere to live. Slum dwellers living in extreme poverty exist either along the railroad tracks, under the bridges, along the drainage or canals, along the sidewalks with their carts, cemetery and other places where poor people have found refuge.

The forcible evictions and violent demolitions being practiced by the government contradicts its human rights commitment and pro-poor rhetoric. “While there is political chaos, here is the real picture of Manila,” Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said during a dialogue among poor railway families and government agencies last March 6. He described the poverty situation in Metro Manila as chilling and scary.

To Denis Murphy, executive director of the Urban Poor Associates, poverty is "the squatter mother whose hut has been torn down by the government for reasons she cannot understand. That night, she sits amid the ruins of her home, listening to her children coughing in the dark. She doesn't know what will happen the next day, but she fears it will be worse than what happened that day."

The railway families refuse to be relocated in distant places like Cabuyao because such a move will compromise their livelihood. Hence, the poor people, once relocated, returned to Metro Manila as slum dwellers once more because it is there where they earn income. Another problem is relocation sites have been showcases of failure since they lack adequate basic services. "Lack of resources can never be used to justify a failure to fulfill the government's obligation to provide adequate relocation. Lest the government should abstain from carrying out or otherwise advocating the forced evictions," the UPA said in a statement. "Anti-poor policies and strategies will not obviate the need for further slum creation. If no serious action is taken, such a failure would spell tragedy as the poorest are getting poorer." -30-

**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE ### NEWS RELEASE**
For more information, please contact:

John Francis M. Lagman (UPA Media Advocacy Officer)

Tel. 4264118

Calvary of the Urban Poor 2006: An invitation to the way of the cross

Urban Poor Associates

25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C. Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615 Fax: 4264118

**NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **

For Immediate Release on April 14, 2006

Calvary of the Urban Poor 2006: An invitation to the way of the cross

The Philippines is Southeast Asia’s largest Roman Catholic nation with a rich cultural heritage. For Filipinos, the observance of Lent and the Holy Week is a time of atonement and sacrifice. The observance is characterized by the chanting of the passion of Christ. Other penitents carry wooden crosses to ask for forgiveness of sins committed, to fulfill religious vows or to express gratitude for favors granted. The reenactment of Kalbaryo (Christ’s passion on the way to the cross) as practiced each year with the staging of the Stations of the Cross continues to be a source of spiritual journey, a continuing tradition of faith.

The Urban Poor Associates, a non-government organization that helps poor families facing evictions, have brought a little twist to these traditions by commemorating a yearly rally called “Kalbaryo ng Maralitang Tagalungsod” (Calvary of the Urban Poor). The first urban poor calvary in 1987 was held around the City of Manila, stopping at several urban poor communities and culminated on top of Smokey Mountain, the man-made dumpsite which became the symbol of deterioration and crass poverty of the country.

This year, however, the protest rally was confined within the government’s shabby relocation site nicely named Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao, Laguna to press the government to immediately address the concerns of the evicted families. Hundreds of poor families dislocated by the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP) held their Kalbaryo April 14, 2006 (Good Friday) to show their sufferings to the rest of the country and protest the worsening poverty, violence and oppression.

The procession led by singers and 7 men each bear the 7 crosses of the poor families. The 7 crosses symbolized evicted families problems on potable water, electricity, education, livelihood, food, transportation and health. They were followed by costumed Jesus Christ, Roman soldiers and Virgin Mary. Prayers, songs and reflection were led by 2 priests. Urban poor, especially children, reenacted the Kalbaryo.

The Kalbaryo started at 9:00 AM with the staging of the Stations of the Cross in Block 41, 44, 46, 63 and 57. It ended around 11:00 AM at the foot of a fast growing dumpsite, a few meters from the relocation site. The main theme of this year’s Kalbaryo is “Paanyaya sa Daan ng Krus” (Invitation to the Way of the Cross).

The government’s ambition is to remove poor families along the Northrail and Southrail tracks. An estimated 150,000 to 180,000 families will be displaced – a truly record breaking feat in our poor nation’s history of displacements. Some 21,000 families (18,000 on the Northrail and 3,000 on the Southrail) have already been displaced. However, many families are very dissatisfied with the government’s relocation plans and the methods it uses to get people to move to the relocation site.

Metro Manila, with estimated 62% of its population as poor, is a warren of people with nowhere to live. Slum dwellers living in extreme poverty exist either along the railroad tracks, under the bridges, along the drainage or canals, along the sidewalks with their carts, cemetery and other places where poor people have found refuge.

The forcible evictions and violent demolitions being practiced by the government contradicts its human rights commitment and pro-poor rhetoric. “While there is political chaos, here is the real picture of Manila,” Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said during a dialogue among poor railway families and government agencies last March 6. He described the poverty situation in Metro Manila as chilling and scary.

To Denis Murphy, executive director of the Urban Poor Associates, poverty is "the squatter mother whose hut has been torn down by the government for reasons she cannot understand. That night, she sits amid the ruins of her home, listening to her children coughing in the dark. She doesn't know what will happen the next day, but she fears it will be worse than what happened that day."

Railway families from Makati City refuse to be relocated in distant places like Cabuyao because such a move will compromise their livelihood. Hence, the poor people, once relocated, returned to Metro Manila as slum dwellers once more because it is there where they earn income. Another problem is relocation sites have been showcases of failure since they lack adequate basic services. "Lack of resources can never be used to justify a failure to fulfill the government's obligation to provide adequate relocation. Lest the government should abstain from carrying out or otherwise advocating the forced evictions," the UPA said in a statement. "Anti-poor policies and strategies will not obviate the need for further slum creation. If no serious action is taken, such a failure would spell tragedy as the poorest are getting poorer." -30-

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For more information, please contact: John Francis Lagman (UPA Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel. 4264118

KALBARYO NG MARALITANG TAGALUNGSOD 2006: PAANYAYA SA DAAN NG KRUS

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118

*MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY**MEDIA ADVISORY*

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on April 12, 2006

KALBARYO NG MARALITANG TAGALUNGSOD 2006: PAANYAYA SA DAAN NG KRUS


WHAT: Hundreds of poor families dislocated by the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project will hold their calvary for a special Holy Week observance called “Kalbaryo ng Maralitang Tagalungsod” (Calvary of the Urban Poor). The Kalbaryo serves as a gathering of the poor to show their sufferings to the rest of the country and protest the worsening poverty, violence and oppression. The Urban Poor Associates, a non-government organization which holds annual Kalbaryo since 1987 to depict the sacrifices of the poor, this time aim to press the government to immediately address the concerns of the evicted families. The main theme of this year’s Kalbaryo is “Paanyaya sa Daan ng Krus” (Invitation to the Way of the Cross).



WHERE: It will be conducted at the government shabby relocation site nicely named Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao, Laguna. There will be stations of the cross in Block 41, 44, 46, 63 and 57.


WHEN: The Kalbaryo will start at 9:00 AM and will end around 11:00 AM at the foot of a fast growing dumpsite a few meters from the relocation site on April 14, 2006 (Good Friday).



WHY: The government’s ambition is to remove poor families along the Northrail and Southrail tracks. An estimated 150,000 to 180,000 families will be displaced – a truly record breaking feat in our poor nation’s history of displacements. Some 21,000 families (18,000 on the Northrail and 3,000 on the Southrail) have already been displaced. However, many families are very dissatisfied with the government’s relocation plans and the methods it uses to get people to move to the relocation site.



HOW: The procession will be led by singers and 7 men each bear the 7 crosses of the poor families. The 7 crosses symbolized evicted families problems on potable water, electricity, school, livelihood, food, transportation and health). They will be followed by costumed Jesus Christ, 2 Roman soldiers and Virgin Mary. Prayers, songs and reflection will be led by 2 priests. Urban poor, especially children, will reenact the Kalbaryo.



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For more information, please contact:

John Francis Lagman (UPA Media Advocacy Officer)

Tel. 4264118

NHA IGNORES CARDINAL ROSALES, DEMOLISHES URBAN POOR HOUSES IN MAKATI

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Telefax: 4264118
Tel. 4264119 / 4267615

***NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE***

For Immediate Release
April 5, 2006

NHA IGNORES CARDINAL ROSALES,
DEMOLISHES URBAN POOR HOUSES IN MAKATI

Some 166 railway families were forcibly evicted by the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) yesterday in Barangays San Antonio, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar in Makati City. Hundreds of demolition crews escorted by policemen implemented the demolition activity.

The affected families expressed dismay that the NHA led by General Manager Federico Laxa who attended the dialogue with Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales at the Cardinal’s residence on March 6, 2006 totally ignored the Cardinal’s appeal that all poor families to be evicted by the government’s railroad project would be given relocation and that the resettlement site should be equipped with basic services and livelihood opportunities before people are transferred there.

"Nabalewala ang dialogue na yon. Katulad namin, si Cardinal pala ay hindi pinakikinggan ng pamahalaan. Ang pagkakaiba lang ay medyo magalang sila kung magsalita, pero ganun din," (The dialogue was useless. Like us, the Cardinal was not listened to by the government. The difference was that they appeared to be respectful when talking to the Cardinal, but the result is the same) commented Estrella Terencio, a resident of Pio del Pilar.

Of the 166 families only 40 families will receive relocation in Cabuyao. The others are described as appealants because they have to complete their documentary requirements.

"As in other areas, after making them waits they will probably not receive relocation from the government," said the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization.

Fourty three year old Lilia Escarlan of Block 44, Lot 30 of the Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao Laguna said many relocatees have abandoned their houses to go back in Makati City because of the poor condition of the relocation site and the lack of livelihood opportunities there. "Ang problema namin wala kaming hanapbuhay sa Cabuyao kaya nagtitiis kami sa kariton. Kahit wala kaming bahay dito basta mayron lang kaming makain," (Our problem is that we have no livelihood in Cabuyao that is why we are willing to live in our cart. Even if we do not have a house here, what matter is we have something to eat).

Lilia and her husband Adriano are now collecting garbage materials along the streets of Makati City to earn at least P100 a day. The Escarlan family and many other displaced railway families along the railway tracks have chosen to sleep on their carts, under the bridges and along the streets than to live in their newly built houses at the relocation site. "Yung paglikas sa amin, di ko kagustuhan dahil para kaming basurang itinapon doon. Hindi namin kasalanan na umuwi kami ulit dito. Sa Cabuyao maganda yung aking bahay pero gutom kami," (Our relocation is not to my liking because we were thrown there like garbage. It is not our fault that we came back to this place. In Cabuyao my house is nice but we were hungry.) Escarlan told the UPA media. -30-

For further information, contact:
John Francis M. Lagman (Media Advocacy Officer)

Protesting Evicted Southrail Families to be evicted from CHR compound

Urban Poor Associates
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Telefax: 4264118
Tel. 4264119 / 4267615

***NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE ***

For Immediate Release
April 11, 2006

Protesting Evicted Southrail Families to be evicted from CHR compound

Some 20 railway families from San Antonio Makati City have camped out and built cardboard lean-tos at the compound of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) along the Commonwealth Avenue to press the government to immediately address their concerns. They at first camped out in front of the National Housing Authority (NHA), along the Elliptical Road in Quezon City on April 5 but on April 6 they were threatened with dispersal by Quezon City policemen and so decided to transfer to the CHR compound.

Their houses were demolished by the NHA and the the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) to give way for the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP). Contrary to the government's position, they assert that they have the right to be given relocation. Now their rights to express their grievances and to seek redress are also being denied.

“Kami ay biktima ng rehabilitasyon ng PNR na di nabigyan ng relokasyon. Para kaming mga hayop na itinapon ng NHA sa kung saan-saan. Para di maharas ang aming mga kasama sa bangis ng mga pulis, naging atrasan namin ang CHR upang maging pansamantalang kanlungan habang inilalaban namin ang aming karapatan sa paninirahan” said Glenn Loloy, leader of Samahan ng Maralita sa San Antonio (SAMASA).

Until today, these families have been enduring hunger and sickness being exposed to the natural elements. Among them are 4 babies, 14 children, 3 pregnant women and 2 elderly. The poor families fear another forced eviction by the UP Police if National Capital Region CHR Commissioner Wildhen Soriano will not consider their petition to temporarily stay on the CHR grounds while looking for a staging area.

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that helps thousands of poor railway families facing evictions, condemned the government’s insensitivity to the needs of the evicted families. “The inhuman eviction being practiced by the NHA, Philippine National Railways (PNR) and the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) violates the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which guarantees everyone the right to adequate housing,” said Teodoro Añaña, coordinator of the Eviction Watch of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights. "It violates the international principle that evictions should not render anyone homeless. Since the railway project is a foreign funded project it is covered also by the guidelines on international cooperation between nations, in this case, the Philippines and South Korea, which prohibit massive forced evictions."

The Philippines is a signatory to the International Covenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), a international treaty that obliges the Philippines to respect, protect and fulfill the right to adequate housing. Furthermore, the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) conform with the guidelines of the United Nations on eviction process which states that a relocation/resettlement plan should be prepared and implemented which allocates sufficient resources to ensure that those affected are fairly compensated and rehabilitated to at least their former socio-economic level.

More than a hundred railway families were forcibly evicted by the NHA, PNR and the LIAC last April 4 in Barangays San Antonio, Magallanes and Pio del Pilar in Makati City. Hundreds of demolition crews escorted by policemen implemented the demolition activity. Some families have chosen to accept a distant relocation at the Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao Laguna despite its disgraceful condition and lack of livelihood opportunities. However, many of them were tagged by the NHA as ‘disqualified’ for relocation because they have failed to secure necessary documents. -30-

For more information, please contact:

John Francis Lagman (Media Advocacy Officer)
Tel: 4264118

NIGHTMARE AT SOUTHVILLE BLAMED ON VP DE CASTRO

Urban Poor Associates
***NEWS RELEASE*** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE ***

For Immediate Release
March 29, 2006

NIGHTMARE AT SOUTHVILLE BLAMED ON VP DE CASTRO

Troubles for thousands of railway families began January 2006 when their houses along the railway tracks in Makati City were demolished to give way for the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project (NSLP). With no income and alternative livelihood, thousands are stuck, facing the specter of starvation on their relocation site at the Southville Housing Project in Cabuyao Laguna.

Finding the Southville unbearable many families have gone back to Metro Manila and live as informal dwellers once more. "Nagiging ghost town na ang Southville dahil gutom na yung mga tao dito," (Southville has turned into a ghost town because the people here go hungry) said Francis P. Reyes of Block 44, Lot 31.

The Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that works with the poor railway families, has conducted a study about evictions. According to UPA, the expensive distant relocation program does not work and has tremendous effects. Family income drops by up to 50% and they can only recover economically after 5 years.

"The government has been using from the past to the present the get-the-job-done at any cost approach, even at the expense of people's rights enshrined in national and international laws in all its relocation activities. It hasn't worked! We should try the path of good, pro-poor and humane relocation," the UPA said.

The UPA supports the affected families’ demand that the relocation site should be equipped with the basic services such as potable water, electricity, schools and clinics as mandated by national and international laws before they are transferred to the relocation sites.

Without potable water in Southville, the poor people have to buy 5 gallons of distilled water worth P35. Some would travel about 50 kilometers to fetch water from Makati City.

The public face of the relocation program is Vice president Noli de Castro, who also chairs the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). The Vice President recently visited Southville together with the members of the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC).

The residents said it was hard to get near to VP de Castro and it seemed like he was in a hurry during the visit. “Nung pumunta s’ya rito, nakita n’ya yung mga tao pumapalakpak, tuwang-tuwa na s’ya (de Castro). Pero di n’ya alam ang tunay na damdamin, nakangiti pero luha ang nasa likod no’n,” (When he visited us, he saw the people clapping, that made him [de Castro] happy. But he never noticed the feelings, behind those smiles was tears) commented Reyes.

“May peligro rito, kasi malapit kami sa dumpsite. Maraming lamok at langaw,” (There is a great danger here because we are near the dumpsite. There are a lot of mosquitoes and flies) complained Reyes.

With the loan provided by the National Housing Authority (NHA), the beneficiaries purchased construction materials that were overpriced and of inferior quality. “Mahal at manipis ang yero nila, matigas pa nga ang tansan ng softdrinks,” (The tin roof cost too much and is very thin, the cap of softdrinks is even harder) Reyes said. "Pag pusa nga ang lumakad dyan kapag gabi, akala mo tao, kaya ang sabi nila dito, may aswang!" (When the cat walks on it at night, it seems like a human that is why people here said there is a monster).

“Nung nasa riles pa kami, kahit papaano, may hanapbuhay kami. Delikado nga yung tren doon, pero p’wede ka namang mag-ingat. Mas delikado rito, di ka nga masasagasaan ng tren, unti-unti ka namang pinapatay!” (When we were still at the railway tracks, in any case, we have livelihood. The train is dangerous but we can take care of it. It is even dangerous here, surely the train will never hit us, but we’ve been put to a slow death) said Clemente family, one of the 2,754 evicted families. -30-

For further information, contact:
John Francis M. Lagman (Media Advocacy Officer)
25-A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Q.C.
Tel. 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118