MMDA illegal demolitions / violent forced evictions

MMDA continues creekside demolition in Quezon City




Solons tussle with MMDA demolition crew in Quezon City





QC Rep. Bingbong Crisologo at MMDA officer Bobby Esquivel, muntik nang mangpang-abot sa isang clearing operations





MMDA demolition of shanties starts





MMDA to continue demolitions on major roads





MMDA dismantles illegal structures in Quezon City





MMDA tears down signboards at a QC sidewalk





MMDA demolishes houses under bridge in QC





2 MMDA men hurt during Pasay clearing operations

South Korea concerned on plight of railway dwellers in RP

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

Ref: John Francis Lagman
http://jlagman17.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlagman17

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

South Korea concerned on plight of railway dwellers in RP

25 May 2007. Finance and Economy Ministry of South Korea has expressed concerns regarding the relocation of railway dwellers that were affected due to the Northrail-Southrail Linkage Project.

“Our government is well aware of the importance of the issue of relocating local residents in that project, and we emphasize once more that we plan to continually watch to see whether it is being implemented according to international standards,” the Finance and Economy Ministry said in a letter sent to Urban Poor Associates (UPA), a non-government organization that monitors evictions along the railways.

In order to relieve the transportation jam in Metro Manila and at the same time to develop parts of Metro Manila that were becoming slums, South Korea decided in December of 2003 to support the railway project. However it has consistently maintained the position that preparing and implementing adequate relocation for the residents alongside the railway is a precondition for providing support for the project.

“In spite of the continuing Philippine government requests to speed the implementation of the project we have had an international body inspect the conditions of the planning and implementation of the relocation,” the Finance and Economy Ministry said.

In order to monitor whether the relocation is fairly and adequately being carried, South Korea provided the budget for an expert on relocation who belongs to the Asian Development Bank to do a survey on the relocation conditions of the residents displaced by the project, their living conditions in the relocation sites, their degree of satisfaction, and the like.

A second evaluation of the relocation conditions took place last February and following the expert recommendations, South Korea linked the approval of a project purchase contract to provision of a quarterly report on relocation implementation and the possibility of ceasing disbursement of funds in case there would not be adequate and fair relocation.

According to the Finance and Economy Ministry, in the future as well, South Korea will continually monitor whether the railway project is carrying out relocation of the residents adequately according to international standards.

“Our government has already expressed its willingness to support the relocation plan but the Philippine government has not accepted it. If the Philippine government makes a request to support the provision of basic facilities in the relocation settlement we will positively consider it,” the Finance and Economy Ministry said.

“Nevertheless, since credit support is only possible when the receiving country is willing to receive it, at present it is difficult to provide support for the relocation. Our government will in the future also positively consider putting such a support plan on the table at inter-government meetings,” the Finance and Economy Ministry added.

According to UPA, a Philippine petition sent by the Koalisyon ng mga Samahan sa Riles Katimugan (KOSARIKA) was received in South Korea last March. The petition was presented by the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) Korea Committee to South Korean President ROH Moo-Hyun.

The Korean petition requested the President to suspend disbursement of funds for the railway project pending provision of adequate relocation. It mentioned that the World Bank also makes such stipulations, and that the human rights violations are detrimental to Korea’s foreign policy objectives.

On April 18, 2007, Park Mun-Su, a representative of the ACHR Korea Committee visited Mr. Kim Su-Hyun, the Secretary to the President for Social Policy. Mr. Kim arranged for them to meet with Mr. Song Seog-Jun, Assistant Secretary to the President for Civil Petitions & Institutional Innovation.

Mr. Song listened to the account of the terrible conditions suffered by those who have been affected by the railway project. He agreed with the petitioners that the infringement of human rights involved in the project really does counteract the intent of the project to nurture good relations between the two countries. Therefore the situation would seem to call for Korea’s concern over how the project is being implemented. -30-

Urban poor sumugod sa Mendiola

Urban Poor Associates

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

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

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

Urban poor sumugod sa Mendiola

9 May 2007. Magmula sa makasaysayang San Sebastian Church, nag-aapoy sa galit na sumugod sa Mendiola ang mga maralitang tagalunsod na nagmula pa sa ibat-ibang panig ng Metro Manila upang ipabatid sa Pangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ang kanilang nais na pakikipagpulong upang matugunan ang mga suliraning bumabagabag sa kanila.

Naubos na umano ang kanilang pasensya sa kahihintay sa sagot ng pangulo sa kanilang mga sulat na ipinadala nuon pang Abril kung kaya’t minabuti na nilang mag-rally.

Ayon kay Evelyn Franco, kalunus-lunos ang kalagayan ng 914 pamilya na naninirahan sa kahabaan ng estero sa Paco at Pandacan, Manila matapos umanong mademolis ang kanilang mga bahay at sapilitang palayasin ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) magmula pa noong Pebrero.

Dahil walang ibang mapuntahan, napilitan silang tumira sa gilid ng kalsada kung kaya’t marami sa mga bata at may edad ang nagkakasakit. “Hindi namin gusto na matira sa ilalim ng tulay o estero ngunit dala ng kahirapan nagtitiis kami para mabuhay ng marangal at nagbabakasakali na mabago ang kalagayan namin sa buhay. Kung walang relokasyon, huwag naman sanang mag-demolis,” pakiusap ni Mrs. Franco.

“Libo-libo ang dinedemolis ng gubyerno at kadalasan pa ay marahas at walang binibigay na relokasyon. Ito ay mas madalas na nangyayari sa ngayon higit kailanman magmula nang maisabatas ang Urban Development and Housing Act,” ayon kay Atty. Bienvenido Salinas II ng Urban Poor Associates o UPA, isang non-government organization. “Ang ganitong mga gawain ay malinaw na paglabag sa Saligang Batas at sa mga United Nations covenants na ating nilagdaan.”

Kaugnay nito, nakiusap naman ang Arsobispo ng Maynila Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales sa pangulo na tulungan ang mga grupo ng maralitang tagalunsod. “It is our fervent hope that their concerns and requests would merit Your Excellency’s favorable consideration. Whatever help you will extend to them will be greatly appreciated,” ayon sa sulat ng Cardinal.

Dahil sa sulat ng Cardinal, tila nabigyan naman ng pag-asa ang mga maralitang nagmula pa sa Caloocan, Maynila, Taguig at Navotas. Umaasa sila na dahil may suporta ng simbahan, sila ay haharapin ng pangulo. Kabilang dito ang Alyansa ng mga Samahan ng R-10 Navotas na nanindigan para sa mga pamilyang apektado ng Road Widening Project ng Department of Public Works and Highways.

Tinatayang 50,000 pamilya naman ang palalayasin sa riles mula Caloocan City hanggang Calamba para mabigyang daan ang rehabilitasyon ng Philippine National Railway (PNR). Ngunit ayon kay Evelyn Mojica, ang relocation sites ng gubyerno sa Towerville, Cabuyao at Trece Martirez ay hindi angkop dahil kulang sa batayang serbisyo tulad ng kuryente, malinis na tubig na maiinom at higit sa lahat ay mawawalan sila ng hanapbuhay dahil malayo sa dati nilang tirahan.

Dahil sa pagsusumikap ng Koalisyon ng mga Samahan sa Riles Katimugan (KOSARIKA) napakiusapan si Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga ng Taguig at Mayor Pedro Cuerpo ng Montalban na tanggapin ang mga apektadong pamilya. Kung kaya’t nais ng kanilang grupo na hilingin sa pangulo na utusan ang National Housing Authority na ibigay ang nakalaang pondo upang maumpisahan ang mga alternative sites.

Samantala nanawagan din ang mga biktima ng sunog sa Metro Manila sa pangulo upang ito’y magtakda ng batas na nagsasaad na maaaring bumalik sa dati nilang kinalalagyan ang sinumang biktima ng sunog. Ayon sa kanila, mortal na kaaway ng mga maralita ang sunog dahil tulad ng mga nadedemolis, sila ay napipilitang manirahan sa daan kapag walang relokasyon. -30-

UP residents stage protest action against demolition

Urban Poor Associates

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

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

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

UP residents stage protest action against demolition

8 May 2007. Residents of villages inside the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City held a protest rally this morning to oppose the UP administration’s move to rid the campus of informal settlers.

The Nagkakaisang Lakas ng mga Maralita (NALAMA), a peoples organization from 20 barangays within the University, led the protest action at the Oblation in front of the UP Administration Building.

Residents were protesting the impending demolition that they said would eventually dislocate 25,000 urban poor families. Some residents said they have been in the area since 1970s.

Houses of at least 9 families in C.P. Garcia are set to be demolished this month tagging it as a tactic of UP at removing all informal settlers in the campus.

According to Urban Poor Associates (UPA), beginning in 2001 the people had negotiated with UP and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., and had arrived at a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that needed only the concurrence of UP’s Board of Regents.

“It seemed a win-win solution for all parties: the people would get land tenure security and eventual upgrading; the university would get easy access to all the land needed for education purposes and the people’s assistance in limiting the entry of additional poor families; the city would get 25,000 families settled at very little cost. Land security would be long-term leases. The mayor would supply infrastructure – light, roads, drainage etc.,” the UPA said in a statement.

But before the Regents could vote, a change was made in the university’s administration. The new administration issued a series of policy papers that outlined a 180% turn in their mode of relationships with the urban poor, whom they described as enemies of UP.

The papers said the university would no longer negotiate with the poor and would hire more guards and evict rather than negotiate a solution to urban poor problems. The university’s new officials refused to meet with the poor for meaningful discussions.

What the administration proposes are: that demolitions be accepted, if not supported, by the academic community as a politically correct option; that UP will rule out relocation, on site development and other negotiating stances that alienate land and violate the UP Charter.

The UP administration has invoked its exemption from the coverage of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) which requires government to relocate families it evicts.

The House of Representatives legal office led by Parañaque City Congressman Eduardo Zialcita has said UP is not exempt. “While it may be true that UP lands are exempt from the operation of UDHA (RA 7279) with respect to the eviction of informal settlers, the university is not however exempt from the constitutional requirements of prior consultation with those who will be affected by the demolition and consequent resettlement and the just and humane manner of effecting the same under Section 10, Art. XIII of our fundamental law.” -30-

Urban poor set to march to Mendiola

Urban Poor Associates

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

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

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Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Urban poor set to march to Mendiola

Urban poor families in Metro Manila are set to march to Mendiola on Wednesday (May 9, 2007) beginning 9:00 in the morning to urge President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to meet with them.

The people have sent various letters to President Arroyo endorsed by His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales asking for a meeting but to no avail.

Representatives of the urban poor groups want to hold a dialogue with Mrs. Arroyo to make her aware of their problems.

Hundreds of families, for example, are now living in the streets after their houses built along esteros in Paco, Manila were demolished by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). There was no relocation.

Evicting poor families without adequate relocation violates not only the Constitution but also the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) and the United Nations covenants.

Thousands of families living along the railroad tracks in Manila, Caloocan and Taguig wants the demolition of their houses stopped until the government considers in-city / near-city relocation sites as alternatives to its distant relocation sites (Cabuyao / Towerville / Trece Martirez) where life is extremely hard. They want the National Housing Authority (NHA) to hand over the funds it holds to Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga of Taguig and Mayor Pedro Cuerpo of Montalban who have agreed to accept the families and let them do the relocation work.

Urban poor communities in Navotas that were burnt out by fires were told they cannot return to the area. This effectively puts them in the streets, and again violates the law.

The people will gather at 8:00 AM onwards. We hope the police will permit the march. The presence of media will help ensure calm.

Date: May 9, 2007 (Wednesday)

Time: 9:00 AM

Assembly Point: San Sebastian Church, Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila

UP residents to stage protest action against demolition

Urban Poor Associates

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

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

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Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

UP residents to stage protest action against demolition

The Nagkakaisang Lakas ng mga Maralita (NALAMA) requests your presence at a protest action tomorrow (Tuesday / May 8, 2007) beginning 9:00 in the morning at the Oblation in front of the Administration Building, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

Residents of villages located inside the University will hold a protest rally to oppose the UP administration’s move to rid the campus of informal settlers.

The UP administration has invoked its exemption from the coverage of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) which requires government to relocate families it evicts. The House of Representatives legal office has said UP is not exempt.

NALAMA is a peoples organization from 20 Barangays within UP Diliman Campus.

Date: May 8, 2007 (Tuesday)

Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 NN

Venue: Oblation, Administration Building, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

Urban Poor Alliance to endorse pro-poor candidates

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Urban Poor Alliance to endorse pro-poor candidates

Urban Poor Alliance (UP-All) requests your presence at a General Assembly this coming Sunday (April 29, 2007) from 1:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon at the Bulwagang Tandang Sora, College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD), University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.

UP-All will be formally launching itself in the National Capital Region. This activity is expected to gather more than 1,000 representatives of various urban poor groups. This activity has also been deemed an auspicious moment given the upcoming elections, which has been seen as an opportunity to raise the perennial issues and concerns of the urban poor sector.

UP-All NCR has taken the initiative to rearticulate these issues and concerns in the form of a Legislative Agenda. Parallel to this effort, UP-All NCR has also engendered a process that produced a shortlist of senatorial and partylist candidates who have an acceptable character and track record and who are supportive of the aspirations of the urban poor. Selected candidates have been approached by representatives of the Alliance and (through their representatives) have attended a dialogue with UP-ALL leaders on the Legislative Agenda.

The UP-ALL NCR Launch will also be the venue where the shortlisted candidates who committed themselves on the Legislative Agenda will be endorsed. Each candidate will be asked to participate in the ceremonial signing of the Legislative Agenda and will be given a maximum of five (5) minutes to make a speech

The Urban Poor Alliance (UP-ALL) is a coalition of non-government organizations (NGOs) and peoples organizations (POs) representing over 500,000 organised constituents from the urban poor sector. With a presence in four major regions: National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, UP-ALL aims to facilitate the exercise of the basic right to decent shelter especially among the poor through intensive advocacy, broad-based networking, constant policy dialogue, and cutting-edge research.

Date: April 29, 2007 (Sunday)

Time: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Venue: Bulwagang Tandang Sora, College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD), University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

UP-All NCR Legislative Agenda

We, the urban poor people’s organizations and NGOs from the different areas in Metro Manila ask you to sign your agreement to the following proposals for legislation and commit to work for their realization when elected:

1. Enact a law that will set up an independent quasi-judicial body with authority to do the following:

a. Monitor, investigate, and stop demolitions that do not comply with the law.

b. Review, monitor, and check implementation of resettlement action plans (RAPs) and social service programs for the urban poor.

2. Enact a law compelling infrastructure projects that will displace informal settlers to have resettlement action plans (RAPs) with corresponding budgets and identified fund sources.
3. Enact a law compelling LGUs to formulate land use plans providing for resettlement sites and sufficient land for the housing needs of their informal settler constituents.
4. Enact a law that would disallow the use of the National Building Code as a basis for demolishing the houses of informal settlers.
5. Commit to opposing legislative efforts to criminalize the poor as embodied in HB 4215, which seeks to amend the “Anti-squatting law repeal act of 1997” or RA 8368 and HB 3532, which define the enforceable juridical relations on occupancy on or possession of private lands in the country.
6. Conduct an inquiry on the status of titling and distribution of proclaimed socialized housing sites.
7. Enact a law creating a Special Charter for the Socialized Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC).
8. Conduct a sunset review and assess the effectiveness of the CISFA as well as the performance of its implementing agencies.
9. Enact a law mandating the creation of Local Housing Boards (LHBs) by LGUs.

Signed this _______ of April, year 2007 in _____________________________,

_________________________________

Name of Candidate

2007 Senatorial Candidate

If you require further information please contact:

Urban Poor Associates (UPA)
Ref: John Francis Lagman
Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615
Fax: 4264118
http://jlagman17.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlagman17

Urban Poor Alliance
Secretariat Office: Partnership of Philippine Support Service Agencies, Inc. (PHILSSA)
3/F Hoffner Building, Social Development Complex
Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Telephone Nos.: 426-4327, 426-4328, 426-6001 local 4854
Telefax No.: 426-0811

Cardinal Rosales concerned on plight of urban poor

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

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

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

Cardinal Rosales concerned on plight of urban poor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cardinal Rosales asked to stop imminent eviction of poor families

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Cardinal Rosales asked to stop imminent eviction of poor families

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

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

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

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

Date: April 15, 2007 (Sunday)

Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

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

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

http://jlagman17.blogspot.com

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

Bishop Iñiguez comes to the aid of railway families

Urban Poor Associates

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

Tel.: 4264118 / 4264119 / 4267615 Fax: 4264118

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Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

Bishop Iñiguez comes to the aid of railway families

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

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

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

Date: April 11, 2007 (Wednesday)

Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

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

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

**COHRE/UPA Joint Media Release**

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

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

COHRE, the Urban Poor Associates (UPA), and experts from Cambodia, Indonesia, Australia and South Africa are concerned about widespread housing rights violations, after visiting residents at the Southville relocation site in Cabuyao, Laguna yesterday. The team of experts also visited families evicted from their homes along the waterways and railroad tracks in Manila.

More than 145,000 people (29,000 families) have already been evicted from their homes in Metro Manila and Bulacan province since early 2005 due to the rehabilitation of the Philippine National Railway system, referred to as the ‘Northrail-Southrail’ Linkage Project. A total of 914 families living along waterways have also been evicted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) since February this year, and another 500 families face the threat of imminent eviction.

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

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

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

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

COHRE, UPA and the international team of experts call upon all levels of government in the Philippines to:
Halt all evictions along the railway lines, unless adequate relocation sites are found with the consent of affected communities;

Ensure that existing relocation sites are safe, secure and healthy, and that undertakings previously made by government to affected communities are fully implemented;

Halt all evictions along the waterways in Metro Manila unless domestic and international housing rights standards are fully complied with;

Invite the Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing to conduct a mission to the Philippines immediately. -30-

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

http://www.cohre.org/ http://jlagman17.blogspot.com

MEDIA ADVISORY: COHRE / UPA Media Conference

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

COHRE / UPA Media Conference

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

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

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

Date: April 3, 2007 (Tuesday)

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon

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

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

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

http://www.cohre.org/ http://jlagman17.blogspot.com

Bishop criticizes heartless evictions of waterways dwellers

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

Ref: John Francis Lagman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlagman17
** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE *** NEWS RELEASE **

Bishop criticizes heartless evictions of waterways dwellers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MEDIA ADVISORY: RESIST FORCED EVICTIONS!

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

Ref: John Francis M. Lagman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlagman17
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

RESIST FORCED EVICTIONS!

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

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

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

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

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

Date: March 23, 2007 (Friday)

Time: 10:00 AM

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

Wanted: Candidates for the solid 8 million UP-All vote

Urban Poor Positions

We, the Urban Poor Alliance (UP-All), a coalition of 800 urban poor NGOs and people’s organizations, ask candidates to sign their agreement to these urban poor positions and promise to work for their realization when elected. UP-All promises to distribute thousands of copies of the positions and signatures. The following positions are the same as those advanced by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in its February 8, 2007 “Statement on the Nation’s Housing Problem.”


Forced and Illegal Evictions. Thousands of poor families are evicted each year (40,000 plus in 2006) by Local Government Units and agencies, such as, Metro Manila Development Authority, National Housing Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways. They regularly fail to provide any relocation, so the families are literally dumped in the street contrary to the Constitution (Art. 13, Sec. 9), our law (R.A. 7279) and international covenants the Philippines has signed that have the force of Philippine law.

We seek improvements in the law (R.A. 7279) but we realize good laws are not enough and require strong political will to achieve results. We ask your total involvement as legislators and advocates.

The following areas seem certain to be cleared of residents: C-5, R-10, North and South Rail, Pasig River (10-meter easement), and Esteros.

We ask our candidates:

a. To strengthen the laws governing evictions. Make the people’s right to relocation very clear. Also the law needs clarification on many points.

b. Punish those who put poor women, children and the aged in the streets. To date no official has been punished, though thousands of poor families have been evicted without relocation. This requires executive department action, but severe penalties can encourage observance of the law.

c. Guarantee decent, that is, in-city or near-city relocation to all evicted families. Cardinal Rosales has repeatedly asked government to be generous in interpreting deadlines and cut-off dates when deciding who are beneficiaries of relocation. All evicted poor families need relocation.

d. After the election immediately conduct hearings in Senate on the eviction problem.

e. Establish an Independent Commission to control illegal forced evictions. This commission, to be appointed by the president, must sign off on all evictions or the evictions are forced and illegal, and the people in charge are liable to punishment. It will have the power to issue subpoenas duces tecum. (See Appendix A)


The poor have a right to the city as citizens. Land and housing, therefore, must be found within the city. The following measures are steps in this direction:

· Triple the coverage of the Community Mortgage Program (from 13,000 families to 39,000).

· Upgrade and title all urban land proclaimed since 2001. This should include basic services (light, water, drainage, sanitation), lot assignment, and housing assistance. People will pay affordable monthly amortization.

· Continue urban land proclamations at a rate of about 50,000 families per year.

· Private landowners who have poor people living on their land should receive tax breaks if they grant the families long-term leases (10-15 years).

· A more basic solution to the high cost of urban land must be found during the first year of the next Congress. It can involve higher taxes on idle land and other proposals that have been suggested by experts for many years.


Basic Services

· Make it illegal for government or private land owner to deny right of way for water and light services to urban poor communities. To do so violates international law.

· Make it illegal for barangay officials to profit financially from light and water delivery.

· Installment fees cannot be paid all at once by most poor people. Extend payment over 18-24 months.

· Bring back the Depressed Area Electrification Program (DAEP).


Local Housing Boards

Require all cities and municipalities to have a functioning local Housing Boards.


Establish the Church-Government-Civil Society Planning Committee. As the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines did in its “Statement on the Nation’s Housing Problem”, January 28, 2007, we recommend the immediate creation of a government-Church-civil society commission that will provide guidelines for the further development of our cities, so that the urban poor will have a decent place to live and economic development will go hand in hand with social and environmental considerations. The said commissions in each city and town can immediately conduct consultations to discuss and resolve the issues on homelessness in a pro-active way. Planning of mass housing for the poor is a concern of public officials for the sake of the common good, and not only of property developers for their own profit.

· There may be a committee in every urban center.

· A duty of the Committee will be to review major infrastructure plans to guarantee the minimum number of poor people are evicted.

· Another duty will be to organize critical discussions of governmental urban plans, in order to achieve prosperity and social justice in the country. There is at present no such body with the result that our cities and towns are largely unplanned and present a challenge to decent living rather than a help.


Community Mortgage Program and the Social Housing Finance Corporation. The Community Mortgage Program (CMP) was designed to minimize if not prevent forcible evictions. The Social Housing Finance Corporation was a major advocacy campaign of the urban poor. However, the SHFC has fallen short of the goals people had for it. It is supposed to handle the Community Mortgage Program and other forms of housing programs and schemes. It has failed to expand the CMP or offer other services.

We recommend the scaling up of the CMP by adopting the localization scheme. The Localized CMP will enable LGUs to access funds from SHFC and relend to its urban poor communities. We also recommend the enactment of a special charter for the SHFC. (See draft bill in Appendix B)


Other Needs. Many urban poor people are hungry or cannot afford to purchase the World Health Organization’s minimum water needs, or lack legal electric connections, or send their children to deteriorating schools or lack money to buy medicines.

Based on President Ramon Magsaysay’s aphorism: “He who has less in life, should have more in law,” we suggest the position of Ombudsman for the urban poor be created. His or her job will be to see the poor get an even break and even extra help, which is called “affirmation action” in other countries.


Signatures of Candidates:


_____________________________ ______________________________



_____________________________ ______________________________



(Appendix A)

URBAN POOR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA:

1. BILL TO REMOVE THE CUT-OFF DATE OF THE UDHA (MARCH 1992)

· The conditions listed in the UDHA for the three-year demolition moratorium (beneficiary listing, urban lands inventory, resettlement plans) were not complied with;

· With an annual average population increase for urban areas of 5%, the number of urban poor not covered by the UDHA is a staggering ___________.
The cut-all date was arbitrary contingent on a number of things that should have been implemented but were not by government. Hence, it has become discriminatory against the urban poor who came in after March 1992 and rendering them vulnerable to various human rights violations whose only fault is being born poor. The CBCP statement on housing quotes the Pontifical Commission Justice and Peace on the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless: “Any person or family that, without any direct fault on his or her part, does not have suitable housing is the victim of an injustice.

· This violates the equal protection of law for all.

· This violates Philippine treaty obligations arising from its being a signatory of international treaties, such as, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, etc. which guarantee the enjoyment of housing rights for all.


2. Bill to disallow the use of the national building code, specifically, the non-compliance of securing a building permit, for the urban poor.

· Even during Martial Law, Minister Hipolito had already disallowed this with his memorandum order, saying that the national building code does not apply to urban poor housing.


3. Bill to set up an independent quasi judicial body with powers to monitor, investigate and to stop demolitions that do not comply with the law.

· Massive violations of the UDHA continue to take place with impunity. One recourse is to go to court, but this is expensive and time-consuming so that by the time the court acts, the case has become moot and academic.

· Another recourse was provided by Executive Order No. 152, but practice has shown it to be toothless. Many government agencies and LGUs simply ignored it and have not been called to account.

· This is based on the recommendation of the UN in 1995.


4. Bill to limit to the issues listed in Section 28 of the UDHA as basis for demolition and strict compliance with the steps listed in Section 28.

· Government agencies and LGUs, including private individuals, have been using reasons other than those listed in the UDHA to carry out demolitions, such as, violation of the National Building Cose, nuisance, and old decrees and instructions issued by former dictator Marcos.


5. Bill obliging government agencies and LGUs to conduct consultations on and to implement in-city or near-city.

· UDHA says where feasible relocation should be in-city. A process open to public participation should be undertaken to determine what sites are feasible, instead of limiting the decision making to a small group of government planners and politicians. Government budgets should include allocation to acquire/expropriate in-city lands for relocation.


(Appendix B)

AN ACT CREATING THE SOCIAL HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, DEFINING THE POWERS AND DUTIES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the Philippines in Congress assembled.

Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as THE CHARTER OF THE SOCIAL
HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION OF THE YEAR 2004.

Section 2. Creation. There is hereby created a Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), which shall be the primary agency providing end-buyers financing for the low-income group, including the informal sector of the economy. It shall also provide developmental financing to developers, provided that the funds are utilized for socialized housing programs and projects.

To achieve this objective, the administration and/ or trusteeship of the Community Mortgage Program and the Abot Kaya Pabahay Fund (amortization support program and developmental financing program) are transferred from the NHMFC to the SHFC.

Section 3. Domicile. The Corporation shall have its principal place of business in
Metro Manila, but may have branches and agencies in other places as may be
necessary for the proper conduct of business.

Section 4. Capitalization. The Corporation shall have an authorized capital of Fifteen Billion Pesos (P15,000,000,000.00), divided into Fifteen Million shares (P15,000,000) with a par value of One Thousand Pesos per share, to be subscribed and paid for by
the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. In addition to the cash infusion
of the Government, the properties of the present NHMFC which may be transferred
to the Corporation and the contributions of the Government to the Community
Mortgage Program, shall be exchanged for shares of stock to the Corporation and
shall represent the equity investment of the Government.

Section 5. Purposes of the Corporation. The purposes of the Corporation shall
be as follows:

(a) To provide end buyers’ financing to the low-income groups, including the informal sector of the economy; and
(b) To provide developmental financing for socialized housing programs and projects

Section 6. Powers and Functions. The corporation shall have the following powers and functions:

(a) To provide end buyers’ financing to the low-income groups, including the informal sector of the economy;

(b) To provide developmental financing for socialized
housing programs and projects

(c) To administer the Amortization Support and Development Financing Components of the Abot Kaya Pabahay Fund, created under RA 6846, as amended by RA 7835

(d) To administer the Community Mortgage Program and innovative ways to
expand the Program and make it more accessible to the low-income
groups;

(e) To support people’s initiatives for self-help and incremental housing;

(f) To borrow funds from domestic or foreign, private and public financial institutions, and subdivision and condominium developers;

(g) To own, lease, purchase or otherwise acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of property, real or personal, as may be necessary and appropriate for the
conduct of its business;

(h) To invest the funds or monies of the Corporation not needed for end-
buyers’ and developmental financing in government securities and/or
deposited in government banks to ensure its liquidity, safety and growth;

(i) To enter into and perform such contracts with any person or entity, public
or private. As may be necessary, proper and conducive to the attainment
or furtherance of the objectives and purposes of the Corporation;

(j) To adopt, alter and use a corporate seal; to sue and to be sued; and
generally, to exercise all the powers of a corporation under the
Corporation Code which are not inconsistent herewith; and

(k) To promulgate such rules and regulations and to do and perform any and
all acts as may be necessary and proper to carry out is responsibilities,
powers and functions under this Act.

Section 7. Borrowing Power. Subject to the prior approval of the Monetary Board of
the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the President of the Philippines, the
Corporation shall borrow from domestic and foreign private or public financial
institutions, and subidivision and condominium developers, such amount as may,
from time to time be required for its operations, or issue bonds, promissory notes, debentures, certificates of indebtedness, and other debt instruments in foreign
currency. No part of the proceeds of domestic and//or foreign borrowings shall be
used for operating expenses of the Corporation.

The bonds, promissory notes, debentures, certificates of indebtedness and
other debt instruments issued in local or foreign currency shall be at such interest rates, maturities and other terms and conditions as the Corporation may determine.
The debt instruments may be secured by the assets of the Corporation and shall be
fully exempt, both as to the principal and interest, from any and all taxes imposed by
the Government or any of its subdivision. The debt instruments shall be negotiable
and shall be unconditionally guaranteed as to the principal and interest by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, through the Home Guaranty Corporation, which guaranty shall be indicated on the face thereof.

A sinking fund is hereby created for the payment of the Corporation’s bonds issued under the provisions hereof in such manner that the total contribution thereto, accrued at such rate of interest as may be determined by the Secretary of Finance in consultation with the Monetary Board, shall be sufficient to redeem the bonds of maturity. The said fund shall be held in trust by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that shall have the power to:

(i) invest the same in such manner as the Monetary Board may approve;
(ii) charge all expenses of such investment to the said sinking fund; and,
(iii) credit the same with the interest on investments and other incomes
belonging to it.

A standby annual appropriation is hereby made out of any general funds in the National Treasury in such amount as may be necessary to provide for the sinking
Fund created herein and for the interest on bonds issued by the Corporation by
virtue hereof.

Section 8. Alternative Compliance to the Agri-Agra Law and Section 18 of the Urban Development and Housing Act. Subscription by banks of bonds and other
forms of indebtedness issued by the SHFC utilizing the portion of the Agri-Agra
Law, and R.A. 7835, otherwise known as the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Financing Act, and their Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Likewise, purchase of subdivision and condominium developers of these debt
instrument issued by the SHFC, in the amount of twenty percent (20%) of the total subdivision or condominium project cost, shall be considered compliance of the requirement prescribed under Section 18 of R.A. 7279 and its Implementing Rules.

Section 9. Governing Body. The powers and functions of SHFC shall be governed
by a Board of Directors, as follows:

(a) The Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council
who shall be the Chairperson of the Board. Whenever the Chairman of
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council is unable to attend the
meeting of the Board, he/she shall designate the Secretary General as his
alternate, but who shall not act as Chairperson.

(b) The President of the Corporation, who shall be the Vice-Chairperson;

© The Secretary of the Department of Finance. Whenever, the Secretary of
Finance is unable to attend, he/she shall designate an Undersecretary or
any Assistant Secretary to act as alternate.

(d) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Whenever, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government is unable to
attend, he/she shall designate an Undersecretary or any Assistant Secretary to
act as alternate.

(e) The Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management. Whenever,
the Secretary of Budget and Management is unable to attend, he/she shall
designate an Undersecretary or any Assistant Secretary to act as alternate.

(f) Representative from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas designated by the BSP
Governor.

(g) Four (4) representatives from the non-government organization, to be
appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.

The members of the Board shall receive a per diem and reasonable transportation
and representation, at par with other government financial institutions, as may be provided by the Board of Trustees and approved by the President of the
Philippines.

Section 10. Powers of the Board. The Board shall have the following powers:

(a) To formulate policies, rules and regulations to effectively carry out the functions of the SHFC under this Act;
(b) To direct the management, operations and administration of the SHFC;
© To authorize such expenditures by the SHFC in the interest of the
effective administration and operations and
(d) Upon recommendation of the President of the SHFC to appoint and fix
the remuneration and other emoluments of subordinate officers and
personnel of the SHFC, and to remove or otherwise discipline such
officers or employees for cause as may be provided by law.

Section 11. President. The Chief Executive Officer of the SHFC shall be the
President who shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines
for a term of 6 years unless sooner removed for cause or by reason or incapacity. He must be of good moral character, responsible, of unquestionable integrity and probity and must be of recognized competence in any of the field of economics, banking, finance, commerce or industry.

Section 12. Powers and Duties of the President. The President shall have the
following powers:

(a) To prepare the agenda for the meetings of the board and to submit for consideration of the board, policies and measures which he believes are necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of the SHFC;
(b) To execute and administer the policies and measures adopted by the
board; and
(c) To direct and supervise the operations and internal administration of the SHFC. He may delegate other administrative responsibilities to other executive officers of the SHFC subject to such rules and regulations promulgated by the Board, and to exercise such other powers as may be vested in him by the Board.

The salary of the President of the SHFC shall be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors as provided in Section 10 (d) hereof. The Board may authorize the payment of allowances and other emoluments to the President
of the Corporation.

Section 13. Appointment of Personnel. All other officers and employees of the
SHFC shall be appointed by the Board upon the recommendation of the President of
the SHFC.

Section 14. Auditor. The Chairman of the Commission on Audit shall act as the
ex-officio auditor of the SHFC and, as such, is empowered to appoint a
representative who shall act as the auditor of the corporation. He shall also appoint
the necessary personnel to assist said representatives in the performance of his duties.
The auditor of the SHFC and personnel under him may be removed only by the
Chairman of the Commission on Audit.

Section 15. Tax Exemption. Notwithstanding the provision of any general or
special law to the contrary, the SHFC, its properties and transaction except income
shall be exempted from the payment of all taxes, duties, fees and other charges including costs, service and filing fees, appeal bonds in any court in administrative proceedings.

Section 16. Separability Clause. If for any reason any section or provision of this
Act is declared to be unconstitutional or invalild, the other provision not affected
thereby shall continue in force and effect.

Section 17. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.