Dasma residents get support

Beleaguered residents of Dasmarinas Village who are caught in a battle with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) found allies yesterday in their counterparts from Quezon City.

The Alliance of Quezon City Homeowners Associations, Inc. (AQCHAI) composed of thousands of residents from 60 villages the city, said in an open letter to MMDA Chairman Jejomar Binay that it agrees with Dasmariñas Village that the MMDA has absolutely no constitutional or legal authority to take private roads in a non-emergency situation.

Binay earlier issued an order to Dasmariñas Village in December to open its Amorsolo gate to outside traffic for four hours each working day so as to decongest EDSA during rush hours.

The MMDA order is still in effect., while the petition for injunction filed by Dasmariñas Village Association remains pending before the Makati Regional Trial Court.

Not mincing any words, the Quezon City residents said that four hours a day is not "borrowing but -- clearly and blatantly -- illegal expropriation."

"It is not an act of a humane government, but an act of a bureaucratic office intent on ramming its will on law abiding citizens. This is not even imposed on squatters who do not support government because they do not pay taxes like we do," the residents said.

The Quezon City homeowners said numerous private subdivisions in Metro Manila are closely monitoring the progress of the petition filed by Dasmariñas Village because the case will be precedent-setting.