YEARENDER: 2011, a precarious life for the urban poor
In 2011, rights group Karapatan – National Capital Region has
monitored at least one case of demolition a month, which more or less
translates to at least three families losing their homes everyday due
to demolition.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — The violence that accompanied the demolition attempts in
urban poor communities Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City and Sitio San
Roque in Quezon City hit the headlines resulting in a temporary halt to
the demolition. Yet, unknown to many, more and more communities are
facing displacement from their homes and livelihood. Urban poor and
progressive organizations monitored an average of one community
confronting demolition every month for 2011.
“We receive many requests for assistance from organizations of the
urban poor. They want to guard and barricade their communities from
threats of demolition. As long as these calls keep coming, it only shows
how this administration is neglecting the urban poor and ignoring
their right to housing,” Carlito Badion, vice president of Kalipunan ng
Damayang mahihirap and co-convenor of Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon, told
Bulatlat.com.
Badion said President Benigno Aquino III is a failure for poor
Filipinos because of the absence of a comprehensive plan to address
their concerns. It has instead, he added, prioritized big private firms
and its vested self-interest, leaving urban poor dwellers displaced from
their homes.
Public Private Partnership monster that demolishes the homes of urban poor dwellers(Photo by Janess Ann J. Ellao / Bulatlat.com)
First demolition of 2011
The year 2011 began with demolition operations targeting Barangay Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City on January 25. The displacement of more than a hundred families would supposedly give way to the project of the local government to build a United States-White House-like city hall. The residents responded by barricading the community to defend their homes from the demolition team.
The tension ran high when the police moved toward the barricade. Around mid-morning, a canister of teargas was fired at a portion of the community. The police doused the residents with water canons. The residents, on the other hand, fought back using slingshots, stones, bottles and plastic bags filled with human feces, which they call “tae bombs or t-bombs.”.... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/01/03/yearender-2011-a-precarious-life-for-the-urban-poor/