Houses demolished for C-5 widening project

Several houses and establishments along a two-kilometer stretch of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) in West Bicutan, Taguig were demolished in a clearing operation conducted by personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday.

Prior to the demolition residents barricaded the road with burning rubber tires to prevent MMDA sidewalk clearing teams from demolishing the shanties. No one was reported hurt in the confrontation.

The Taguig Public Order and Safety Office (TPOSO) said the establishments which consisted of videoke bars, vulcanizing shops and eateries, had been operating illegally.

"These were not issued permits to operate by the city government," TPOSO head Jess Merilo said.

He said several of the residents there were classified as illegal settlers and were even issued notices to vacate the area.

Some 40 families were displaced by the MMDA clearing operations.

The Taguig Public Information Office said that some of the squatters resisted since they had been staying there for three years now.

"However, we have not recorded any violent incident except at around 4 a.m. when some of the residents and establishment owners started burning rubber tires. This caused traffic in the area, but we were eventually able to pacify them," Merilo said.

The MMDA clearing operations started last week and was only completed yesterday.

Merilo clarified that the demolition was undertaken by the MMDA in preparation for a C-5 widening project, which would be undertaken in cooperation with the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The project will entail the expansion of 19.5 meters from the center island on both sides of the road.