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The real disaster in our country is neither the flood-inducing typhoons that sink our cities under murky waters nor the earthquakes that crumble our homes. In the end, the real disaster here is the poverty that ruins lives.
They were removed from “danger zones” in the city to a relocation site where they face not only the lack in social services and livelihood opportunities but also floods, landslides, and potentially, an earthquake because the relocation site sits near a fault line.
“The houses look good. But we do not have livelihood there. We have electricity and water but we do not have money to pay our bills.” – Purita Dayao
Part Two: From danger zones to a death zone
“The authorities do not know that recycling plastics is the only livelihood we know. If they will dislocate us from our home and source of livelihood, it will only bring us to a more impoverished living condition,” Shirley Carillo, leader of the local organization Samahan ng Magkakabitbahay sa Waterhole, said.
"Where are the funds for the poor?” – Kadamay
“This is the biggest form of theft being committed against us. We are the poor, the most in need, and that money should have been spent on mitigating poverty. But they are blatantly pocketing public funds for their self-serving interests.”
The relocation site for urban poor families living along Road 10, North Harbor is right in the middle of a rice field. The houses are poorly constructed with no electricity, water supply; and there are no livelihood opportunities.
Nida and Solomon Naños were farmworkers in Bicol who were forced to migrate to the city after falling victims to a defective agrarian reform program. They now live along Dario Creek in Quezon City where they face constant threat of demolition.
The “current practice and implementation of demolition of urban poor communities is gravely inhuman, unjust and oppressive in the eyes of God and civil society.” – Church People – Urban Poor Solidarity
The Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Pedikab at Kuliglig Drivers and the Anti-Zero Vending Policy Alliance said people who are trying to make a legitimate livelihood are “not trash that needs to be swept away by the local government.”
A study conducted in 2004 revealed that two resettlement sites (Kasiglahan Village and Sub-Urban Housing Project) are located in an area that is highly vulnerable to floods and earthquakes
“This system that uses the police to hurt people to protect the interest of the few should change.” – North Triangle resident
“While the government has no concrete plans for informal settlers, no demolition should take place in communities.”
“Even if the government manages to make the waterways as wide as one kilometer and as deep as 10 meters, if there is street-level flooding, everything would be useless.” – Geologist Ricarido Saturay
“I know you know what is happening to us. You might have seen it on television. But it seems that rich people are more important to you. What will happen to us?” – a resident’s message to President Benigno Aquino III
The violent clash between urban poor residents along Agham road in Quezon City and policemen were shown in news reports that evening July 1. But what was not shown was how the clash erupted and what were the reasons for the adamant struggle of the urban poor residents.
Agham Rd residents barricade against impending demolition of their homes
A member of the demolition team suddenly grabbed Maybellin Fronda, 2 years old, resulting in a spinal injury even if her mother was already about to leave their house to give way to the demolition.
"The residents would prefer to live along danger zones than relocating to death zones.” – Kadamay
Urban poor residents along North Triangle believe that the so-called road-widening project is just an excuse to demolish their homes.
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