Squatters encroaching on waterways blamed for Metro floods

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials yesterday said squatter families, majority of them living in ramshackle shanties sitting on top of and encroaching into Manila's esteros, are one of the major causes of the metropolis' perennial floodings.

DPWH-National Capital Region director Salvador Pleyto declared, while inspecting declogging operations in the city of Manila's major esteros and drainage mains, that some 3,464 slum-dwelling families residing in seven esteros are set to be relocated in Calauan, Laguna and Norzagaray, Bulacan two weeks from now.

Pleyto said these families are part of some 7,000 squatter beneficiaries to be awarded housing units by the National Housing Authority (NHA). He said the Calauan, Laguna Relocation site will be ready by the end of May as announced by the housing agency.

Priority areas eyed for immediate clearing to ease floodings in Manila are Esteros de Valencia (600 families); San Miguel (600); Aviles (200); Magdalena (858); San Lazaro (400); Dela Reina (306) and the North and South Antipolo Open Canals (500).

Assistant Regional Director Rafael Yabut added that the first to be demolished will be squatters doing commercial business in the one kilometer-stretch of the Antipolo open canal now entirely closed and clogged.

The illegal structures are located along the railroad tracks, on both sides of Rizal Avenue in Blumentritt.

The area, now a marketplace, is a perennial traffic chokepoint even without the floods.

Yabut warned that the demolition of the "commercial portion" of the supposed open canal will take place seven days upon receipt of a demolition notice to be issued by the DPWH.

Emilio Salac, former DPWH-NCR Flood Control Division chief and now Special Project Management Office (Japan International Cooperation Agency/Equipment Assisted Projects) head, told The STAR that the area was last cleared of shanties in 1996 and was declogged.

As soon as the team accomplished their job and left the area, the shanty-dwellers returned as if nothing happened, he said.

DPWH officials who declined to be named also revealed that certain Manila officials are not keen about clearing the shanties because the 2001 local elections are just around the corner.

"The officials at city hall will not touch these people with a 10-foot pole. They will not risk losing the vote potential in this particular area," they said.

Pleyto said he is neither picking a fight with nor is he blaming anyone at the local government level. "The problem of flooding needs to be resolved by a concerted and unified effort of a multi-agency body and the community residing in the area. DPWH cannot do it alone."