PNR rehab should be supported by all sectors

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has tasked the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) under the leadership of Vice President Noli “Kabayan” De Castro to relocate about 120,000 families residing along the railroad tracks of Metro Manila. Completion of this project is necessary to pave the way for the development of the Rail Linkage Project that would connect the Northrail to the Southrail traversing a distance of 138 kilometers from Clark Freeport Zone to Calamba, Laguna. The Northrail Project has started with the successful relocation of 22,874 railway families from Caloocan to Bulacan.

Some 10,408 families have already been transferred in the South. The Makati, Paco and Pandacan segments have been cleared, while operations have moved down to Sta. Mesa and Sampaloc. The rail’s right-of-way in Makati, as seen from the South Super Highway, as well as in Paco, visible from the Osmeña highway, have been totally cleared of informal settlers and shanty structures. Social preparations along Taguig, Muntinlupa and Parañaque segments have started as these would be the next cities that would be cleared. Despite expeditious operations, some 93,414 railway families have yet to be relocated.

Few people realize that these families not only live in poverty; their lives are also constantly in danger. Based on studies from 2001 to 2006, an average number of 166 persons either die or suffer serious injuries per year as a result of train-related accidents. Forced to live in dilapidated shanties with insufficient supply of water and lack of sewerage facilities, these families are deprived of decent and healthy surroundings. Thus crime, disease and atrocities prevail.

It is not surprising that Kabayan’s relentless efforts are sometimes met with opposition from self-serving members of affected communities. There were informal settlers who made it big along the tracks with their permanent commercial structures being rented out at huge amounts and began influencing the other shanty families to side with them. During the election campaign period, many families who volunteered to move out because they wanted to settle down in their new communities before the start of classes were pressured to stay on by self-centered politicians.

We commend Kabayan’s pro-poor and pro-development strategy of relocating railroad settlers to more secure and healthy surroundings in government relocation sites. Under this program, families will be given a real chance to own their house and lot and enjoy a better quality of life at very low initial monthly amortization of only P200 per month, and a grace period of one year. Basic services are provided for in the new communities which have school facilities, police detachments, health centers, water and electricity. With the efficient relocation of these shanty communities, the installation of more efficient railway and transportation systems threading the north to the south in one railway system will be expedited, and will result, in the long run to more mobility at lower transportation costs for our kababayans.

Again, we call on all groups to lay aside self-interest especially where objectives to improve the plight of our disadvantaged sectors are concerned. Let us welcome positive change with open minds and genuine concern for true development.