The poorest who need housing the most are left out in the 4PH Program

Photo by Rappler

 

Urban poor groups, on the eve of President Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA), criticized the administration’s social housing program for its being “overly dependent” on private developers and “downright discriminatory” against the poorest of the poor.

 

Declared as the administration’s flagship program, the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) aims to produce one million “affordable” housing each year to address the cumulative housing backlog of some 6.8 million.

 

But leaders of urban poor organizations in a joint statement declared: “The program is neither affordable nor equitable for the poorest among the homeless Filipinos. Pagkatapos ng anim na taon, maaring nagkabahay ang mga naka-aangat pero ang mahihirap ay hindi,” stated the groups.

 

The urban poor network explained that under this private-led housing development program, only the lower to middle-income families can avail of the ₱1.1 - ₱1.5 million housing loan from Pag-ibig as the poorest of poor, estimated to be 1.7 million of the 6 million beneficiaries, cannot afford a monthly amortization of at least ₱4,000.

 

Housing loans under 4PH is significantly higher than the current loanable amount of up to ₱750,000 for socialized housing under Pag-ibig, with a monthly amortization of ₱2,445/month available for minimum wage earners and low-income families.

 

But informal settler families (ISFs) live under vulnerable conditions of unemployment and underemployment as most of them work in the informal economy with irregular income, the groups said.

 

The ₱4,000 estimated monthly amortization the groups said was based on the 1% interest rate which is the only cost that will be assumed by the government. Pag-ibig imposes a 3% interest rate for socialized housing loans but under the 4PH, only 1% shall be paid by the applicant. The rest of the costs in building the units will be assumed by private developers but which shall also be charged to household beneficiaries through Pag-ibig.

 

But because the proposed housing design is high rise, the urban poor leaders said additional costs for the maintenance and operations of said buildings like elevators and other amenities shall be borne collectively and may incur additional monthly dues of ₱2,000 per household. This would mean a family’s total monthly expenditure for housing at ₱6,000.

 

“Records would show, however, that even for existing NHA projects, only 22% of informal settlers are able to meet the monthly amortization of ₱300. ₱6,000 is twenty times higher than the current NHA cost, making the 4PH an impossible dream house for the poorest of the poor. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang proyekto ay disqualified na ang mahihirap,” said the group.

 

Alternatives

 

Citing a dire need to address the burgeoning housing crisis, the urban poor leaders said they are willing to work with the government with an alternative mechanism that they would like to propose.

 

These include a major proposal for the government to make land acquisition and site development for socialized housing a grant to drive down the cost further and make the program more affordable for the poorest of the poor.

 

The groups also want the framework of “People’s Plan” adopted by the government through the enactment of the People’s Plan bill filed in Congress to ensure that ISFs are not merely treated as “market” in the socialized housing industry but as major partner and participants for realizing the social objective of eliminating homelessness in the country.

 

It is in the People’s Plan, they said, that a flexible housing program can be formulated democratically which may include, among others, lower cost and mixed-use development of the housing estates.

 

Lastly, the groups are also opposed to extending the NHA Charter because of the agency’s failure to solve the housing problem for decades and the recent creation of DHSUD. As an alternative, they propose that the housing projects under the NHA be distributed free for the beneficiaries in the same way lands were condoned for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the rural areas.

 

“Kung ang ARBs sa kanayunan ay nabigyan ng Pangulo ng condonation at emancipation sa kanilang mga utang, maari din itong gawin para sa mga ISFs ng kalunsuran,” the group concluded.

23 July 2023

Urban Poor Leaders Network

For more info you may contact:

 Ver Estorosas

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

09423690337

 

Rodel Rubias

HOA Resettlement Alliance

0928 729 6269

 

Jonathan Chua

Laban ng Maralitang Sektor

09610230159

 

Nestor Yaranon

Kilos Maralita

09239770681

 

Vicente Barlos

President

Alliance Peoples Organization in  Lupang Arenda (APOLA)

09437091266

 

Jonjon Elago

President, ULAP-Confed

09218202998

LIGTAS NA PABAHAY HILING SA NHA NG MGA NAKATIRA SA DANGER ZONES SA BULACAN

 

Lumusob ang may 100 pamilya sa tanggapan ng National Housing Authority sa San Jose Del Monte Bulacan upang hilingin sa ahensya na ipagkaloob na ang matagal na nilang hinihintay na pabahay sa mga katulad nilang naninirahan sa tinatawag na danger zone o mga lugar na hindi ligtas sa pinsala ng mga sakuna katulad ng pangpang ng ilog o mabababang lugar na madalas binabaha.

 

Nais ng mga ito na muling makipagdayologo sa mga opisyal ng NHA sa rehiyon upang alamin ang mga hakbang na gagawin matapos ang ilang taong pag-uusap tungkol sa kanilang kahilingan. Ang grupo ay kinabibilangan ng mga kasapi ng Partido Manggagawa (PM) at Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilino (AMP).

 

Ayon Kay Ver Estorosas, Pangulo ng PM at lider din ng AMP, 2017 pa umano nagkaroon ng mga dayologo sa kanilang kahilingan subalit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa umanong linaw mga hakbang para sa kanilang paglilipatan.

 

“Umabot na nga ang aming pakikipag-usap hindi lamang sa NHA kundi sa Kapitolyo at Senado. Sa katunayan ay may mga ilang nailatag nang resolusyon na napag-usapan kaharap si former Gov. Willy Alvardo ng Bulacan at noo’y Housing Committee Chair ng Senado na si Sen. JV Ejercito,” pahayag ni Estorosas, subalit wala umanong iniuusad sa antas ng NHA kung kaya’t idinadaan nila itong muli sa protesta.

 

Darating na naman aniya ang tag-ulan at panahon ng bagyo at mahaharap na naman sila sa panganib gayong may mga paraan nang natukoy noon para sa unti-unting relokasyon (by batches) ng nakalistang mga pamilya sa mga proyektong pabahay ng pamahalaan.

 

“Bukod sa panganib ay hindi rin kami makapirmi sa aming paghahanapbuhay dahil sa iregularidad ng aming kalagayan kaya’t doble namang titinitiis ang hirap ng buhay at kawalang katiyakan sa paninirahan,” dagdag pa ni Estorosas.

 

Nakisaup sa NHA, sa provincial government, at maging sa Kongreso na magtulung-tulong na para maihakbang at ganap nang masolusyonan ang kanilang kahilingan.

 

At bilang bahagi ng uring manggagawa, ang PM at AMP ay sasabay din sa selebrasyon ng Mayo Uno sa Maynila sa darating na Lunes upang makilahok sa panawagang dadag na sahod, regular na trabaho, at karapatan ng manggagawa at maralita. 

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

28 April 2023

Contact:

Ver Estorosas

PM/AMP – Bulacan

09423690337

Bagsak na kabuhayan dahil sa nagtaasang presyo, pondong naglalaho

Salamat sa TRAIN, sabi ng mga economic managers ni Pangulong Duterte. Lumaki ng 20% ang tax collection ngayon lamang kalahati ng taong 2018. Salamat sa TRAIN, tumaas ang take-home pay ng mga nakakaangat na uri sa amin. Salamat sa TRAIN, unti-unti na raw mapopondohan ang build, build, build (BBB) projects ng administrasyon.

Pero may narinig na ba kayong mahirap na nagpasalamat sa TRAIN? Wala dahil mahirap magpasalamat sa bagay na siyang nagpapahirap sa atin. Dahil sa TRAIN ay nagtaasan lahat ng presyo ng bilihin at serbisyo. Kaya’t habang sila ay galak na nagpapasalamat dito, tayo ay namumulubi sa perwisyong dala ng pasaning ito.

Kaya isinagasa sa atin ang TRAIN ay para daw mapondohan ang mga programa ng gubyerno. Pero bakit nawala ang pondo sa pabahay ng maralita? Bakit nabawasan din ang pondo sa edukasyon, kalusugan, at iba pang serbisyo? Dahil ba hindi naman ito problema at ayon kay DBM Secretary Ben Diokno, hindi naman magugutom ang mahihirap kung magsisipag lang?

Balikan natin ang pondo sa pabahay. Sa halagang P2.8B para sa housing sector ay walang bagong pabahay na maitatayo. Halos singlaki lang ito ng P2.5B intelligence fund ni Pangulong Duterte. Kaya’t ang mangyayari ngayon ay may pondo ang HUDCC, HGC at NHA para lamang umandar ang kanilang mga opisina at hindi para magtayo ng mga bagong pabahay.

Dahil daw ito sa bagong sistema ng cash-based budgeting. Ang hindi raw marunong gumastos ng pondo sa loob ng isang taon ay hindi bibigyan ng panggastos. Bilyun-bilyon daw kasi ang hindi nagagastos dahil sa bagal ng implementasyon ng mga ahensya ng gubyerno.

Pero bakit maralita ang magdurusa sa kapalpakan ng mga ahensyang ito? Kung umistambay ang NHA sa programang pabahay, ang mga opisyal dapat nito ang tinapyas hindi ang pondo sa pabahay.

Nang magreklamo ang economic managers sa kawalan ng pondong gagamitin sa pederalismo, ang sabi ng Pangulo sa kanila ay gawan ito ng paraan. Pero sa isyu ng pondo sa pabahay, hindi na nag-iisip ng paraan, diretso agad sa tapyasan. Sa madaling salita, magkakaroon ng pondo para itayo ang bahay ng pederalismo pero sa pantayo ng bahay ng maralita, wala.

Huwag natin itong payagan. Mas malaking pondo para sa pabahay at iba pang serbisyo, ipaglaban! Dagdag na buwis labanan! Kaltas sa badyet ng pabahay pigilan!

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

30 Agosto 2018

Workers slam Duterte’s SONA for dishonesty on endo

In reaction to the SONA of President Rodrigo Duterte, the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today called him out for being less than honest on his statement about contractualization.

Rene Magtubo, PM national chair, said that “PRRD was less than honest on endo. The 300,000 workers allegedly regularized have either been terminated as companies appeal the DOLE compliance order or have merely been made regular employees of agencies. He had the power to promulgate an executive order that made direct hiring the norm in employment relations but instead he signed a lame EO 51. He asked Congress to a law to end contractualization but he still has not certified the Security of Tenure bill as urgent.”

“PRRD obviously feels the pressure of the workers’ demand against contractualization but still refuses to heed the demand to decisively end it. Workers have enough of his alibis and broken promises. It is up to workers movement to fight for an end to endo,” he added.

Yesterday, PM mobilized a thousand workers and poor in a “tambay protest” in the NHA main office before joining the massive United People’s SONA. The group and its affiliated Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) slammed the NHA for being negligent or “tambay” in providing for the housing needs of the poor thus resulting in unused units and years-old wait for beneficiaries.

Magtubo insisted that “There was nothing new in the SONA 2018.  PRRD’s SONA 2018 was boring despite the direction of romcom queen Joyce Bernal and compared to the action-drama of the House coup. Even the spectators inside the Batasan were not as excited as before when PRRD’s SONA was interrupted by standing ovations and vigorous clapping. The power play in the House of Representatives, the drop in PRRD’s satisfaction ratings and the massive United People’s SONA rally took the thunder out of the speech.”

PM chapters in the cities of Cebu, Bacolod and Davao also joined rallies or activities together with other groups in those areas as part of the nationwide counter-SONA events.

“We shed no tears for the hour-long delay in the SONA. The House intramurals expose that the old rotten politics is alive and kicking under PRRD despite his repeated promises of change. Bulok, bulok, bulok sa halip na build, build, build,” Magtubo asserted.

He furthered that “PRRD was silent on the workers demand for a wage increase and his promise to end wage regionalization or ‘provincial rates’ in his own words. On the other hand, he was adamant in supporting the TRAIN law that has eroded workers’ wages as inflation continues to worsen. And he has called for passage of regressive TRAIN 2 that will lower corporate taxes.”

“Workers and the poor are suffering under PRRD. Besides endo and inflation, workers communities are ravaged by the bloody war on drugs and the wanton arrest of tambays. Which will be relentless as PRRD has insisted in SONA 2018. Human lives are protected and upheld by human rights despite PRRD’s rhetoric. The more than 12,000 mostly poor Filipinos who have been killed in the war on drugs unequivocally reveals that human lives are lost when human rights are disparaged,” Magtubo averred.

July 24, 2018

Alyansa ng maralita “tatambay” muna sa NHA bago sumanib sa United Peoples SONA

Magsasagawa muna ng “Tambay Protest” ang mga myembro ng Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) sa tanggapan ng National Housing Authority (NHA) alas diyes (10:00AM) ng umaga bukas bago magmartsa patungong Commonwealth Avenue at Batasan para sumanib sa Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (Kalipunan) at United Peoples SONA (UPS). 

Ayon kay Ver Estorosas, tagapagsalita ng AMP, layunin ng “Tambay Protest” na ipakita sa NHA at sa publiko ang malungkot na estado ng programang pabahay ng pamahalaan. Sa kasalukuyan anila ay bukod sa napakabagal ay kulang na kulang ang programa para tugunan ang pangangailangan ng mahihirap na Pilipino para sa ligtas at disenteng paninirahan. 

Kung tutuusin daw ay ang NHA daw ang siyang “tambay” sa usapin na ito dahil sa napakabagal na implementasyon ng mga programang pabahay – mula sa pagproseso ng aplikasyon ng mga benepisyaryo hanggang sa substandard na konstruksyon ng mga proyekto sa mga off-city at walang kabuhayan na relocation sites. 

Ayon pa kay Estorosas, hindi mauubusan ng benipisyaryo ang programang pabahay ng pamahalaan kaya’t dapat madaliin ang mga proseso hinggil dito at laanan ng malaking pondo. 

Sa kasalukuyan ay umaabot pa sa mahigit 6 na milyon ang housing backlog sa buong bansa at inaasahang lolobo pa ito sa 12 milyon sa taong 2030. Kaya’t pinupuna din ng AMP ang programang build-build-build (BBB) na popondohan ng mga bagong buwis dahil mas nakatuon umano ang mga infrastructure project nito sa mga negosyante at hindi sa pabahay ng mga maralita. 

Ibinabaling din umano ng gubyerno ang pulisya sa madugong anti-drugs at anti-tambay na kampanya na nagdudulot ng pangamba at karahasan sa mahihirap na komunidad. Ang kailangan umano ay magkaroon ng regular na trabaho at disenteng tirahan ang mga Pilipino para ganap na mawala ang mga tambay at pasaway sa mga lansangan. 

Sinamahan ng mga lider ng Partido Manggagawa (PM) ang protesta ng AMP dahil naniniwala ang partido na kawalan ng disenteng trabaho at paninirahan ang tunay na pinagmumulan ng problema. 

Ayon kay Renato Magtubo, tagapangulo ng PM, ang mga usaping ito ang naghahanap ng kongkretong pagbabago sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, hindi pa ang istruktura ng pamahalaan na nais baguhin sa isinusulong na chacha. 

Mula sa NHA ay tutulak ang grupo patungo sa Toyota Commonwealth para sumanib sa Kalipunan at sa United Peoples SONA.

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP)

23 July 2018

Workers march to condemn dispersal of NutriAsia picketline, call for boycott

Some 200 workers marched this afternoon in Marilao to the strikebound condiments factory NutriAsia. Members of the Bulacan chapter of Partido Manggagawa (PM), Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino, the Bulacan Motorcycle Riders Confederation and a newly established labor group, Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at Samahang Manggagawa, condemned the violent dispersal of the picketline of striking workers last week. Scores of strikers were arrested and several more were wounded as police enforced a court order against the picketline.

The PM-Bulacan and Kapatiran members assembled at the corner of Pantoc and Lambakin in Marilao at 1:00 pm before proceeding to the NutriAsia factory. Members of PM-Bulacan are among the NutriAsia strikers.

“The dispersal of the NutriAsia picketline exposes the double standard of the so-called justice system and also of the present administration. A court order to allow free ingress and egress at the factory is forcibly enforced while a DOLE order to regularize workers remains unimplemented. We have an administration that promised to end endo yet police violence is inflicted upon workers fighting against contractualization,” averred Gerry Rivera, head of the Kapatiran.

The group is calling on the public to boycott products made at the factory until the workers’ demands for regularization is met. NutriAsia manufactures Datu Puti, Silver Swan, UFC Ketchup and Mang Tomas among others.

Kapatiran was formed by several unions and workers associations as a “solidarity space” for unaffiliated and federated organizations. It aims to complement ongoing labor unity efforts even as it plans to campaign for urgent labor reforms.

“We call on the police to observe the DOLE-PEZA-PNP Guidelines on the Conduct of Security Personnel During Labor Disputes. Police are not allowed to escort scabs into a strikebound factory and they should maintain a 50 meter distance from the picketline,” argued Ver Estorosas, chair of the PM-Bulacan.

Rivera called on the labor movement to close ranks in solidarity with the workers of NutriAsia and other labor struggles. He recalled that another workers strike in the Cavite export processing zone in Rosario was also harassed by security guards.

“Solidarity among workers is necessary to defend the right to peaceful concerted actions, including strike and advance the campaign against endo,” argued Rivera. Rivera is also union president of the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) which has waged a bitter struggle against contractualization at the national flag carrier. PALEA and Kapatiran are calling on the DOLE to expedite the release of the results of a labor inspection of PAL and its sister company PAL Express.

Partido Manggagawa-Bulacan

June 18, 2018

Hundreds of urban poor slam NHA for 3-year long wait in housing units

Some 300 informal settlers in Bulacan trooped to the National Housing Authority (NHA) provincial office in Balagtas to demand approval of their housing applications that date back to 2015.

“Three years is too long to wait for housing for the poor. We have complied with requirements. We are willing to pay amortization. What is taking the NHA that long? In the meantime, housing units lie vacant and rotting in San Jose del Monte and other relocation areas,” argued Ver Estorosas, head of the Bulacan chapter of Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP), which organized the protest action.

The rally today is the latest in a series of protest actions at the NHA Bulacan. Yesterday, informal settlers who occupied the Pandi relocation area had a rally. Last Friday, a hundred members of AMP-Bulacan trooped to the NHA Balagtas but no officials came out to dialogue with them.

AMP, a nationwide organization of urban poor and informal settlers, called on NHA to negotiate in good faith with the protesters. It is their second time to rally at NHA in a week's time. The group is criticizing the utterly slow pace of the National Housing Authority in providing socialized housing for the poor.

Hundreds of urban poor families have waited for three years for the NHA Bulacan to process their applications for relocation. Of almost 700 potential beneficiaries, only 81 have actually been relocated. Almost 100 families have already been qualified but have yet to be relocated. In addition, AMP has submitted 200 more names for pre-qualification. All the poor applicants were vetted by the provincial government.

In April last year, a hundred of them rallied at the NHA Bulacan to press for the demand for socialized housing. In a dialogue, the NHA promised to expedient the processing. The urban poor families filed their applications in 2015. 

May 30, 2018

Krus ng kanilang kahilingan, iprinusisyon ng mga maralita sa kanilang bersyon ng kalbaryo

 

Apat na krus na sumisimbolo sa mga sularinanin at kahilingan ng maralitang Pilipino ang pinasan ng mga miyembro ng Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) at Partido Manggagawa (PM) sa kanilang bersyon ng ng “Kalbaryo ng Maralita” na ginanap sa Maynila kaninang umaga.

Nagkita-kita sa ang may 500 myembro ng AMP at PM sa may Sta. Cruz Church sa Maynila dala ang apat na krus na pasan-pasan nila sa ginanap na martsa-prusisyon patungong Mendiola.

Ayon kay Ramil Cangayao, lead convenor at tagapagsalita ng AMP, ang apat na krus ay sumisimbolo sa apat na kahilingan ng maralita tulad ng (1) Disente, abot-kaya at ligtas na komunidad; (2) Trabaho at kabuhayan, (3) Subsidyo sa pagkain, at (3) Universal healthcare

Ayon kay Cangayao, malabong maging ‘predominantly middle class society’ ang Pilipinas sa taong 2040 na siyang ibinibida ng pamahalaan sa Ambisyon Natin 2040 kung mismong pinakabatayang pangangailangan ng mahihirap ay hindi matutugunan tulad ng pabahay, trabaho, pagkain, at kalusugan.

“Mahirap mangarap ng malayo kung ang malapit at kagyat na pangangailangan ay hindi mismo maihakbang. Kung kasali ang maralita sa Ambisyon, kami ang dapat unang makaramdam nito sa kanyang unang mga taon,” sambit ni Cangayao.

Ayon sa AMP, humigit kumulang sa anim (6) na milyon ang housing needs ng mga Pilipino bukod sa mahigit 2 milyong backlog at sa planong Build-Build-Build (BBB) ay hindi naman prayoridad ang abot-kaya at disenteng pabahay sa mahihirap kundi mga big ticket projects tulad ng kalsada, airports, riles, subway, at iba pa na baka maging daan pa sa dislokasyon ng maraming mahihirap na pamilya sa mga tatamaan ng proyekto.

Malawak pa rin umano ang problema sa kawalan at kalulangan ng trabaho at ang laganap na endo sa sektor paggagawa.  Hirap na hirap din ang mahihirap sa mataas na presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin na sa halip na bumaba ay lalo pang tumaas dahil sa implementasyon ng TRAIN law.

Gaundin sa problema sa kalusugan dahil kahit umano may anunsyo na hindi tatanggihan ang mahihirap sa mga ospital ay nananatiling mahal ang serbisyong medikal, lalo na ng mga hindi saklaw ng philhealth, insurance, at iba pang ayuda.  Kaya hinihiling ng maralita ang universal healthcare o maaring pakinabangan anumang oras at saan man.

Nanawagan ang grupo na unahin ng gubyernong Duterte ang solusyon sa mga nabanggit na problema ng mahihirap kaysa sa interes ng negosyo at mga dayuhang investor na interesado sa BBB ng pamahalaan.

“Ilagay ang pondo ng gubyerno sa pabahay, trabaho, pakain, at kalusugan ng mga Pilipino. Maging ang lokal at dayunang puhununan ay magandang dito rin ilaan,” pagtatapos ni Cangayao.

Marso 27, 2018

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP)

Maralita ng Bulacan, bumalik sa NHA upang igiit ang aksyon sa kanilang housing applications

Sumugod sa opisina ng National Housing Authority (NHA) sa Bulacan ang humigit-kumulang 500 informal settlers para igiit ang aksyon sa matagal na nilang nakabinbing mga aplikasyon para sa pabahay. Ito ang ikalawang beses na nagrali sa opisina ng NHA sa bayan ng Balagtas ang mga maralitang kasapi ng Partido Manggagawa (PM) at Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP).

Sa dialogue na naganap nitong nakaraang Abril 17 habang nagaganap ang rali ng mga members ng AMP at PM, sinabi ng kinawatan ng NHA na denied ang mga application. Hindi nakumbinsi ang grupo ng mga maralita sa anila’y malabong paliwanag kaya’t humingi si Ver Estorosas, lider ng PM sa Bulacan, konkretong paliwanag sa bawat isang aplikasyon na isinampa. Nagkasundo ang  magkabilang panig sa muling magharap ngayon araw.

Banggit ni Estorosas, “Dumaan sa tamang proseso ang mga residente ng Bulacan na nasa mga danger zone at may mga banta ng demolisyon para makakuha ng slot sa programang pabahay ng NHA sa Bulacan.”

Kahapon ay tumungo sina Estorosas sa opisina ng Gobernador ng Bulacan at sa NHA National upang humingi ng tulong. Noong Marso 23 ay nagpadala na ng sulat ang NHA National sa NHA Bulacan para i-utos ang immediate action sa request ng grupo ni Esterosas.

Dagdag pa ni Estorosas, “Abril 7, 2015 pa nagpadala ng endorsement letter sa NHA-Central Luzon ang tanggapan ni Bulacan Gob. Wilhelmino Alvarado para sa 100 pamilya na inilapit ng PM sa provincial government para sa programang pabahay.  Nasundan ito ng panibagong endorsement letter ng Gobernador para sa panibanong aplikante na 325. Natanggap ang nasabing mga liham ni Efren Dinglasan ng NHA pero nagsabi ito na unahin muna ang aplikasyon ng unang 100.”

“Dahil dito, noong July 15, 2015, nagkaroon ng dayalogo sa kapitolyo na dinaluhan mismo ni Gob. Alvarado, at mga kinatawan ng NHA, PM at mga lider ng maralita at dito ay nagkasundo na bigyan ng housing units ang mga nakatira sa danger zones ng Bulacan at agad na mailipat ang unang 100. Sa katunayan ay binigyan na sila ng application forms ng NHA para masimulan na ang proseso,” ani Estorosas.

Aniya nasundan pa ito ng ilang pag-uusap hanggang sa inabutan na ito ng eleksyon at pag-upo ng bagong administrasyon.

Iginigiit ng PM at AMP ang agarang pag-aruba sa mga aplikasyon dahil bukod sa dumaan ito sa tamang proseso, available at nabubulok na ang mga nakatiwangwang na pabahay sa Bulacan, katulad ng binabanggit ng grupong Kadamay na nagsagawa ng kampanyang okupasyon noong nakaraang buwan.

“Dapat na ring buksan ang iba pang proyektong pabahay ng NHA sa lalawigan para sa mga lehitimong aplikante kaysa mag-antay na mabulok na lamang ang mga ito ng tuluyan na hindi nalilipatan ng mga totoong benepisyaryo kung meron man,” giit ni Estorosas.

25 April 2017

Mga lehitimong applikante ng NHA housing sa Bulacan, nagrali para aprubahan ang kanilang aplikasyon na nakabinbin mula pa noong 2015

Mahigit 500 lehitimong aplikante ng programang pabahay ng National Housing Authority (NHA) sa Bulacan ang nagrali ngayon sa tanggapan ng NHA sa Balagtas, Bulacan upang hilingin na aprubahan na ang kanilang aplikasyon na nakabinbin sa ahensya mula pa noong Abril 2015.

Ayon kay Ver Estorosas, tagapagsalita ng Partido Manggagawa (PM) sa Bulacan, dumaan sa tamang proseso ang mga residente ng Bulacan na nasa mga danger zone at may mga banta ng demolisyon para makakuha ng slot sa programang pabahay ng NHA sa Bulacan pero hanggang ngayon, ang naturang aplikasyon ay hindi pa naaksyuan.

Abril 7, 2015 pa umano nagpadala ng endorsement letter sa NHA-Central Luzon ang tanggapan ni Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado para sa 100 pamilya na inilapit ng PM sa provincial government para sa programang pabahay.  Nasundan ito ng panibagong endorsement letter ng Gobernador para sa panibagong aplikante na 325. Natanggap ang nasabing mga liham ni Efren Dinglasan ng NHA pero nagsabi ito na unahin muna ang aplikasyon ng unang 100.

Noong July 15, 2015, nagkaroon ng dayalogo sa tanggapan ng Gobernador na dinaluhan mismo ng gobernador, at mga kinatawan ng NHA, PM at mga lider ng maralita at dito ay nagkasundo na bigyan ng slots o yunit ang mga nakatira sa danger zones ng Bulacan at agad na mailipat ang unang 100. Sa katunayan ay binigyan na sila ng application forms ng NHA para masimulan na ang proseso.

Ayon kay Estorosas, nasundan pa ito ng ilang pag-uusap hanggang sa inabutan na ito ng eleksyon at pag-upo ng bagong administrasyon.

Hinihiling ngayon g grupo na aprubahan na ang naturang mga aplikasyon dahil bukod sa dumaan ito sa tamang proseso, available at nabubulok na nga ahalos ng mga nakatiwangwang na pabahay sa Bulacan, katulad ng binabanggit ng grupong Kadamay na nagsagawa ng kampanyang okupasyon noong nakaraang buwan.

Dagdag pa ng PM-Bulacan, dapat na ring buksan ang iba pang proyektong pabahay ng NHA sa lalawigan para sa mga lehitimong aplikante kaysa mag-antay na mabulok na lamang ang mga ito ng tuluyan na hindi nalilipatan ng mga totoong benepisyaryo kung meron man.

Nagdududa ang grupo na kaya nakatiwangwang ang libu-libong pabahay ng NHA sa Bulacan ay dahil ayaw itong lipatan ng mga nakatalagang benepisyaryo mula sa Kamaynilaan, walang serbisyo ng tubig at kuryente, at ang malala ay baka umano ginagawang negosyo ng mga opisyal ng ahensya.

Umaasa ang grupo na ang kampanyang isinagawa ng Kadamay ay magbukas ng daan upang ang mga bakanteng pabahay ng NHA sa lalawigan ay mapakinabangan ng mas marami, lalo na ang mga lehitimong aplikante na matagal nang naghihintay na ang kanilang mga aplikasyon ay maaksyunan. Kailangan din umanong repormahin ang sistemang ito para matiyak na ang programang pabahay ay may kasabay na esensyal na serbisyo tulad ng tubig at kuryente.

Nagpahayag din ang grupo na dadalhin din nila ang kanilang hinaing sa Malacanang sakaling hindi aksyunan ng NHA sa Bulacan ang kanilang kahilingan.

17 April 2017

Tucuma residents welcome suspension of demolitions but wants moratorium extended till housing program reformed

Press Release

April 28, 2012

Tucuma Federation

The residents of the depressed community of Tucuma in Barangay Merville, Parañaque who have been preparing to fight off an eviction heaved a sigh of relief and welcomed the temporary suspension of demolitions ordered by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo hours after they held a rally and sought a dialogue with his office yesterday.

“We however call on Sec. Robredo to extend the moratorium till the housing and even jobs policy of the government is reviewed and reformed,” Ramil Asturias, Tucuma Federation president said. This was in reaction to reports that the suspension will only last until the regulations on demolitions are assessed and affirmed.

Leaders of Tucuma Federation together with residents of NIA compound in Quezon City and West Bicutan who face similar land disputes staged the rally and were met with a DILG official named Clarion Paz-Tanghal who received the letter on behalf of Sec. Robredo. Asturias appealed to Robredo to facilitate negotiations between Tucuma Federation, the landowner Molave Development Corporation and Parañaque  Mayor Florencio Bernabe.

Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa chairperson, supported Asturias’ position and said that “Suspending demolitions until new rules are drafted merely scratches the surface of the problem. The government needs to address the root cause of lack of housing for the poor. The housing program is tied up with the jobs and wages policy. The low wages in the country, as attested by a recent report of the ILO, means that the poor have barely enough income for food much less rent or amortization on housing.”

Magtubo announced that a long march or Lakbayan from Calabarzon to Manila will be held on the eve of Labor Day and banner the call “Stop to demolitions, Housing and jobs for all.” Some 400 workers, youth and poor from Cavite, Laguna and Batangas will march from Zapote early in the morning of April 30 then merge with a contingent from Metro Manila by 3:00 p.m. in Baclaran and stay overnight at the Holy Trinity Church in Balic-Balic. On May 1, the “Lakbayan para sa Pabahay at Trabaho” will join the huge 20,000-strong “historic” rally by the newly-formed Nagkaisa, which unites the country’s major labor center for the first time since the 1980’s.

Magtubo revealed that the number of informal settlers was estimated at half a million families by a HUDCC study in 2007 while the housing backlog is assumed to be 3.7 million units. “Tucuma’s fight is the fight of all. Decent housing is a right not a privilege of all Filipinos. Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement,” he insisted.

Parañaque residents vow to defend community as Mayor says demolition to proceed today

Press Release

April 26, 2012

Tucuma Federation

Residents of a Parañaque community vowed to defend their homes as City Mayor Florencio “Jun” Bernabe declared that the scheduled demolition today will proceed. The possibility of another violent eviction follows the bloody demolition at Silverio compound last Monday in which one resident was killed and scores were arrested. Ramil Asturias, president of the Tucuma Federation, said that “We have lived peacefully here for years but will resist any attempt to forcible evict us from our homes.”

The Tucuma Federation represents some 1,000 families living in the depressed community of Tucuma in Barangay Merville. A hundred Tucuma Federation members rallied at the Parañaque City Hall yesterday in a last-minute appeal but Mayor Bernabe snubbed the call for a dialogue. In news reports, Mayor Bernabe averred that he cannot do anything as it is a court-ordered demolition. After the Tucuma members returned home from the city hall rally, they began preparations for defending their homes against demolition.

“Mayor Bernabe’s character is revealed by his double standard. He says that his hands are tied by the court order for a demolition yet he refuses lift a finger to enforce a city ordinance mandating the expropriation of the disputed land. It is in Mayor Bernabe’s power to set aside the demolition as the affected residents are also the beneficiaries of the expropriation ordinance,” Asturias explained.

The Tucuma Federation is demanding the implementation of City Ordinance 0013 s. 2000 expropriating the disputed land and asking that Mayor Bernabe refile the expropriation case on the property owner. The Molave Development Corp. headed by a certain Cynthia Tinitigan is claiming ownership of the disputed land which is less than one hectare big.

The Tucuma Federation expressed solidarity with the Silverio residents, condemned the deadly force used on Monday’s demolition and demands a moratorium on demolitions. “Heads must roll for the death of one resident from police gunfire and the brutality accompanying the arrest of scores protesters,” asserted Ramil Cangayao, spokesperson of the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP). The Tucuma Federation is an affiliate of the AMP which is an alliance of urban poor associations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa national chair, asserted that “Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement.” Magtubo explained that one of the demands of the coming Labor Day rally is a moratorium on demolitions.

Parañaque residents rally against demolition

Press Release

April 25, 2012

Tucuma Federation

More than 100 residents of a community in Parañaque staged a rally at the city hall this morning to call for a stop to the scheduled demolition of their homes tomorrow. In the face of the violent eviction at the Silverio compound last Monday, another demolition has been scheduled tomorrow at the Tucuma community at Barangay Merville in Parañaque.

Ramil Asturias, president of the Tucuma Federation has vowed that “We will defend our community where some 1,000 urban poor families reside. It is in the hands of Mayor Florencio ‘Jun’ Bernabe whether a peaceful resolution of the land dispute or another violent confrontation occurs at Tucuma.”

Aside from a stop to the scheduled demolition, the Tucuma Federation also called for the implementation of City Ordinance 0013 s. 2000 expropriating the disputed land and asked that Mayor Bernabe refile the expropriation case on the property owner. The Molave Development Corp. headed by a certain Cynthia Tinitigan is claiming ownership of the disputed land which is less than one hectare big.

“We ask that Mayor Bernabe make a political decision to set aside the demolition order since the affected residents are also the beneficiaries of the expropriation ordinance that has long remained unenforced,” Asturias explained.

The Tucuma Federation likewise condemned the deadly force used on Silverio residents and demands a moratorium on demolitions. “Heads must roll for the death of one resident from police gunfire and the brutality accompanying the arrest of scores protesters,” said Ramil Cangayao, spokesperson of the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP). The Tucuma Federation is an affiliate of the AMP which is an alliance of urban poor associations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa national chair, asserted that “Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement.”

Magtubo explained that one of the demands of the coming Labor Day rally is a moratorium on demolitions. Some 20,000 workers and urban poor under the umbrella of the newly-formed Nagkaisa will march along Espana to Mendiola to highlight the issues of job contractualization, low wages, high prices of oil and power and violent demolitions, among others. Some 40 labor organizations established the Nagkaisa, among them the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Alliance of Progressive Labor and PM.

Urban poor group condemns violent Paranaque demolition, use of deadly force

Press Release

April 24, 2012

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

The urban poor group Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) and the labor party Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) condemned the violent demolition at the Silverio Compound in Paranaque and assailed the use of deadly force by the police. “Heads must roll for the death of one resident from police gunfire and the brutality accompanying the arrest of scores protesters,” said Ramil Cangayao, spokesperson of the AMP. AMP is an alliance of urban poor associations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.

Meanwhile Renato Magtubo, PM national chair, asserted that “Violent evictions must be prohibited. Land disputes must be resolved through negotiations without the threat of violence, deceit or bribery. Residents must be relocated to better living conditions to ensure that negotiations end peacefully in agreement.”

Cangayao expressed the fear that violence may erupt once more in Paranaque since another demolition has been scheduled on Thursday at the Tucuma community in Barangay Merville. Ramil Asturias, president of the Tucuma Federation, declared that they will defend their community from any attempt at demolition.

The Tucuma residents are planning a rally at the Paranaque city hall tomorrow to appeal for a stop to the scheduled demolition. Tucuma Federation is an affiliate of the AMP.

Magtubo explained that one of the demands of the coming Labor Day rally is a moratorium on demolitions. Some 20,000 workers and urban poor under the umbrella of the newly-formed Nagkaisa will march along Espana to Mendiola to highlight the issues of job contractualization, low wages, high prices of oil and power and violent demolitions, among others. Some 40 labor organizations established the Nagkaisa, among them the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Federation of Free Workers, Alliance of Progressive Labor and PM.

“Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita” held in Makati

Press Release

April 4, 2012

A “Kalbaryo ng Manggagawa at Maralita’ was held in Makati today to highlight the plight and demands of workers and the poor. Some 200 members of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) participated in the “Kalbaryo.”

“The Kalbaryo is an annual tradition to remind government of the unmet demands and the heavy crosses borne by the working people. Contractual jobs, low wages, high prices and demolitions of depressed communities are the problems underscored by today’s protest,” Renato Magtubo, PM chair explained.

The Kalbaryo passed through key government agencies and private institutions in Makati in a mock stations of the cross. One protester carried a symbolic cross on his back. Some women participants held shrouds ala the legend of St. Veronica. The cross and shrouds were marked with the issues highlighted by the Kalbaryo.

The advance party of the protesters from PALEA arrived early at

Ayala Ave.

by 8:00 am to catch the employees going to work. The rest assembled at the Makati fire station by 8:30 am. At 9:00 am the Kalbaryo started with a march to Lucio Tan’s office in Allied Bank Building to assail contractualization at Philippine Airlines. Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair said that “To resurrect Philippine Airlines (PAL), its regular workers must be reinstated. PALEA is the solution so that PAL regains its place as Asia’s best. We say this to PAL’s old boss Lucio Tan and its new owner, the San Miguel group.”

The “Kalbaryo” then proceeded to the Employers Confederation of the Philippines office in Buendia to criticize the business group for its resistance to a wage hike. The next stop was the nearby office of the Department of Trade and Industry to draw attention to the high prices of basic commodities.

To focus on the problem of oil price hikes, the protesters then marched all the way to the Shell office in Valero. The “Kalbaryo” ended at the HUDCC office in

Makati Ave.

corner Buendia to call on the government for a moratorium on demolitions and increased budget for housing.

Magtubo added that “The Kalbaryo is a buildup to the May 1 rally. On Labor Day, workers demand reforms beyond the prosecution of Gloria and the impeachment of Corona. Workers will call on the Aquino government to heed the demands for regular jobs, wage increase and reduction in prices of oil products. Further we ask for a review of the policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization that have led to thousands of closures and layoffs, and the collapse of industry and agriculture.”

Violence, demolition threaten Calamba community

Press Release

May 29, 2011

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

Shots were fired and stones were hurled at the houses of two leaders of an urban poor community that is being threatened by demolition. The incidents happened late night of Friday as residents of a community at Purok 3, Barangay Makiling in Calamba, Laguna were resting and sleeping.

“We call on Mayor Jun Chipeco of Calamba and newly reappointed DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo to assist the urban poor of Calamba who are being threatened by an illegal demolition,” stated Ramil Cangayo, coordinator of the Calabarzon chapter of Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP), a national network of urban poor organizations that is campaigning for a moratorium on demolitions, reforms in the housing policy and housing security of informal settlers.

At 11:45 pm last Friday three shots were fired at a light bulb in the house of Zeny Martirez, treasurer of the Samahang Magkakapitbahay Magkakaibigan Kapuso (SMMK). The shards fell on the face of her child who sustained injuries. The family recovered two bullet fragments inside their house. Earlier at 10:00 pm stones were thrown at the house of Mike Brendes, auditor of the group. Martirez and Brendes filed a report at the barangay yesterday about the incidents. SMMK leaders suspect the violent harassment is connected to the demolition being threatened by barangay captain Soliman Lajara and a certain Cao of Galaxy Realty Corp which owns the lot on which the community stands.

“Some 86 families are now living in fear because of the harassment and threats. Cao and Lajara are warning the residents that they must leave tomorrow or else be demolished. However there is no demolition order so clearly this is illegal,” Cangayao explained.

The leaders and members of SMMK had staged a rally and held a dialogue with Mayor Chipeco last May 10. Negotiations with the mayor’s office are still ongoing.

Renato Magtubo, national chair of Partido ng Manggagawa, called on President Benigno Aquino III to sign a draft executive order providing for a moratorium on demolitions and evictions. “The spate of violent demolitions in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Metro Cebu reveal the need for a moratorium on evictions. During the pendency of the moratorium, government must hold an honest dialogue with the urban poor for strategic solution to the problem of housing for the poor,” he explained.

PM and AMP and are involved in the consultations held by the cabinet level task force headed by Secretary Robredo with the mandate to formulate and recommend policy resolutions on the housing issues confronting the urban poor. An executive order for the moratorium drafted as a result of the consultations has remained unsigned by President Aquino.

Groups rally against “balik-probinsya program,” call for moratorium on demolitions

Press Release

May 16, 2011

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) mobilized its members for a rally led by the urban poor alliance Kilos Maralita at the HUDCC main office in Makati. Some 500 urban poor picketed the Atrium Building in Makati this morning.

“The proposed balik-probinsya program is a wrong solution to the problem. The urban poor built the cities and we are entitled to live in it,” declared Ramil Cangayao, an AMP leader.

Some 500,000 informal settlers are set to be relocated to the provinces under the balik-probinsya program proposed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). After the HUDCC rally, the protesters also proceeded to the DAR main office at the

Elliptical Road

in Quezon City to continue the rally. The groups lambasted the balik-probinsya proposal.

The groups also called on President Benigno Aquino III to sign a draft executive order that provides for a moratorium on demolitions and evictions. “The spate of violent demolitions in Metro Manila and other areas, such as the Laperal compound, reveal the need for a moratorium on evictions. During the pendency of the moratorium, government must hold an honest dialogue with the urban poor for strategic solution to the problem of housing for the poor,” explained Cangayao.

AMP is a network of urban poor organization in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon that is campaigning for a moratorium on demolitions, reforms in the housing policy and housing security of informal settlers.

PM, AMP and Kilos Maralita are involved in the consultations held by the cabinet level task force headed by Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo with the mandate to formulate and recommend policy resolutions on the housing issues confronting the urban poor. An executive order for the moratorium drafted as a result of the consultations has remained unsigned by President Aquino.

Ed Casuy, leader of the Paranaque chapter of AMP, said that “We appeal to PNoy to make good on his campaign promise that he will declare a moratorium on demolitions and evictions. This is a promise that has remained unfulfilled to this day. Everyday that PNoy delays implementing a moratorium, more urban poor fall victim to illegal and violent demolitions and evictions.”

“Are vested interests with connections to key officials of PNoy blocking the draft moratorium order? Or has PNoy himself turned his back on his promise to the urban poor? The urban poor will not stop hounding PNoy in order to know the answer,” Casuy asked.