Group cries foul over MMDA demolition drive

Members of an Urban Poor Group decried yesterday the continuing clearing operations by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) against shantytowns in Pasay City.

Soti Sabarre, spokesperson of the Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition, said the MMDA has been pushing through with demolition activities in the area despite “a finding during a recent Senate hearing that the agency has not been strictly observing rules on demolitions.”

He said that starting 10 a.m. yesterday, a team from the MMDA demolished a number of houses in Barangays 46 and 43 in the “Estero Tripa de Gallina” area in Pasay City.

Fatima Cosare, also an urban poor leader helping residents in the area, noted that more than 100 families were affected by the clearing operation.

Last August, the MMDA demolished the houses of around 500 families in at least five barangays, also in “Estero Tripa de Gallina” in Pasay.

Sabarre said the MMDA still pushed through with the demolition even if the government has no clear plan as to where the affected families will be relocated.

“The government has built flood control projects in almost every river and creek in Metro Manila since the 1980s. But they are just trying to fool the public and put the blame on the poor people living along the waterways, “ Sabarre’s group said.

The group pointed out that shanty-dwelling families also have rights, “guaranteed in our Constitution and specified in Republic Act 7279 or the Urban and Housing Development Act of 1992.”

Roberto Esquivel, chief of the MMDA’s Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group, said the continuous clearing operations are part of its “Metro Gwapo” project.

“This will be continuous as we want to get rid the metropolis of eyesores,” he said.

Esquivel stressed that the displaced families would have to be evaluated to determine if they are qualified to transfer to a relocation site.

“Not all are eligible for transfer to a specified relocation site. Those who fear that they would be left in the streets, come to us and we will refer you to the Department of Social Welfare and Development so that your concerns can be taken care of,” he said.            – Rhodina Villanueva