ABA opposes eviction of 60,000 families in Taytay, Rizal

MANILA, Philippines - The party-list group ABA, headed by Rep. Leonardo Montemayor, urged President Arroyo to suspend the implementation of Executive Order 854, which revoked Presidential Proclamation 704.

According to Montemayor, PP 704 - issued by former President Fidel Ramos - transferred some 80 hectares of public land in Sitio Tapayan, Barangay Sta. Ana of Taytay, Rizal to the National Housing Authority for distribution to informal settlers in the Pasig River and in Taytay under the government’s socialized housing program. The 80 hectares are part of the 171-hectare area in Taytay popularly known as Lupang Arenda.

Some 60,000 families currently residing in the proclaimed socialized housing area now face eviction due to EO 854, Montemayor said.

The ABA representative disclosed that, based on his initial inquiries and actual visit to Lupang Arenda, the report and so-called “complete staff work” that served as the basis of EO 854 were done hurriedly by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“No consultations with local government officials, other national government agencies, and concerned residents and their organizations were undertaken by DENR on the community, provincial, regional and/or national levels,” Montemayor lamented.

He also disputed the DENR’s claim that, during tropical storm “Ondoy,” vast areas of Lupang Arenda were washed out and submerged for several weeks.

“The site where many houses were washed out is located in Purok 8, which is outside the 80 hectares proclaimed under PP 704. Moreover, the slight flooding experienced in the proclaimed site could have been avoided had the Metro Manila Flood Control/Road Dike Project in the area been completed and the facilities properly maintained and operated during Ondoy,” Montemayor added.

He pointed out that Purok 8 has now been totally cleared of structures, since they impede the flow of floodwaters that drain into Laguna Lake from Taytay and nearby towns and cities.

The ABA head expressed strong support for the position of the Arenda Urban Poor Federation, Inc., Mayor George Gacula, Vice Mayor Janet de Leon-Mercado and the Sangguniang Bayan of Taytay, calling for the suspension or revocation of EO 854 pending further review and conduct of a comprehensive technical, environmental and legal study on the matter.