Caloocan creates body to help displaced railway squatters

MANILA, Philippines - Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri created a local inter-agency committee recently to help at least 2,400 informal settlers affected by the North-South Rail Linkages project.

Through Executive Order 03-09, Echiverri created a committee on livelihood to provide alternative livelihood and skills training to residents of Northville 2-B, the local government’s in-city resettlement project at Barangay 171 in Bagumbong.

He had personally chosen the resettlement site because of its proximity to schools, a hospital, a market, a transportation terminal and Novaliches, Quezon City with its accessible roads.

According to Echiverri, the relocation of the informal settlers living beside the Philippine National Railway’s tracks would mean the deprivation of their current sources of income or livelihood.

He said if this is not resolved soon, the relocatees might be forced to abandon the houses that had been given them.

“We need a comprehensive livelihood training program for those who have been displaced. This is consistent with the city government’s commitment in looking after the welfare of our less privileged constituents,” he said.

Echiverri heads the committee as chairman, with city administrator Russel Ramirez and National Housing Authority manager Ma. Teresa Oblipias as vice chairpersons.   – Jerry Botial