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

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

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

Urban poor protest Cavite mayor’s intrusion into mass housing project

Informal settlers protest at GMA, Cavite municipal hall

Urban poor protest Cavite mayor’s intrusion into mass housing project

More than a hundred informal settlers in the town of General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), Cavite protested yesterday the interference of the mayor in a mass housing project being implemented by the National Housing Authority (NHA). The GMA residents held a march from their community in Quarry Hills in Barangay Dacin to the NHA office and finally at the municipal hall.

“We demand that Mayor Walter Echevarria cease and desist from obstructing the smooth completion of the housing project handled by the NHA that will benefit some 300 families in Quarry Hills. We call on the Mayor to allow the ongoing validation and verification of actual occupancy that is part of the NHA’s process for socialized housing,” asserted Jun Labrador, leader of the GMA informal settlers.

The day before, the mayor had ordered a stop to the validation and verification being done by NHA personnel at the Quarry Hills community. “We even heard from reliable sources that Mayor Echevarria  verbally abused the NHA project manager in his fit of anger,” Labrador insisted.

The protesters at the GMA municipal hall called on Mayor Echevarria for a dialogue but instead it was his daughter, Councilor Maricel E. Torres , who is running in the coming election as the vice mayor of his re-electionist father, who came down to meet the Quarry Hills informal settlers.

“We agreed to Councilor Torres’ proposal for a meeting of all the interested parties at the Quarry Hills site even as we insisted that such a meeting should not stop nor delay the ongoing validation and verification phase of the housing project,” Labrador argued.

Ramil Cangayo, chair of the Cavite chapter of the party-list group Partido Manggagawa (PM), which is assisting the Quarry Hills residents in their fight for housing rights, averred that “The LGU should not interfere in the project implementation since it is entirely the mandate of the NHA. For the LGU to interfere is to overstep its bounds and is tantamount to abuse of authority.’

He explained that the Quarry Hills informal settlers had already struggled too long to secure their tenure rights to the 3.7 hectare public land. “As early as 2002, the NHA had issued memorandum circular 1754 awarding the land to the informal settlers on Quarry Hills. In 2006, the LGU had already approved the subdivision plan for the onsite housing project. Justice delayed is justice denied. Kung totoo ang tuwid na daan, matagal na sanang nakamit ang katiyakan sa paninirahan ng mga taga-Quarry Hills,” Cangayao stated.

PM vowed to support the Quarry Hills residents in the ongoing dispute and their fight to secure affordable housing. “The protest yesterday is not the first nor the last. Tuloy ang laban hanggang maipanalo ang katiyakan sa paninirahan. Accessible housing for the poor is a key part of PM’s demand for sufficient social services. Along with our call for cheap prices of goods and utilities, decent wages and job security, these constitute PM’s Apat na Dapat platform for workers and the poor,” Cangayao clarified.

October 30, 2015

Partido Manggagawa

Tucuma residents appeal to Catholic Church for support

Press Release

April 29, 2012

Tucuma Federation

The residents of the depressed community of Tucuma in Barangay Merville, Paranaque City appealed to the Catholic Church for support in its land dispute. Leaders of the Tucuma Federation will meet with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who also heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, today to present their case and request.

“The social teachings of the Catholic Church put forward that people should be first before profit. Applied to our case, this means that the housing and livelihood needs of some 1,000 families are a priority over the private property claims of the Molave Development Corporation which wants to profit by speculation over a long-idled land,” explained Ramil Asturias, Tucuma Federation president.

Tomorrow a long march or Lakbayan will banner the call “Stop to demolitions, Housing and jobs for all.” Some 500 workers, youth and poor from Metro Manila and Calabarzon will lead the “Lakbayan para sa Pabahay at Trabaho” which will start by 3:00 p.m. at Baclaran Church and end by 8:00 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church in Balic-Balic.

The marchers will stay overnight at the Holy Trinity Church then join on May 1 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. Among the eight major demands of Nagkaisa’s Labor Day rally will be reform of the socialized housing program of the government and a moratorium on demolitions.

Asturias will propose to Bishop Pabillo that the Catholic Church call for an extension of the temporary suspension of the demolitions ordered by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. The suspension will only last until the regulations on demolitions are assessed and affirmed. “We however want that the moratorium last until the socialized housing of the government is reviewed and reformed. The government’s housing policy for the poor is profit not service-oriented,” Asturias insisted.

Renato Magtubo, Partido ng Manggagawa chairperson, welcomed Robredo’s suspension of demolitions but also pushed for an extension. “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,” he said.

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.

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.

Paranaque urban poor to march to city hall

Press Release

April 7, 2011

Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

Some 100 informal settlers who were recent victims of violent demolitions marched today to the Paranaque city hall to call for a stop to the forcible eviction of the urban poor. The Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) chapter in Paranaque led the march that assembled at 10:00 a.m. in Kabihasnan then proceeded to the city hall in Valley 1.

Ed Casuy, leader of the AMP-Paranaque, said that “We ask the local government of Paranaque for a moratorium on demolitions and evictions. There have been recent demolitions in the city which did not follow the procedures laid down in the law.”

Casuy revealed that on March 30 a violent demolition happened at the community of Cherry East Cul de Sac in Barangay Sun Valley, Paranaque that led to the injury of an old woman. “This is a private land inhabited by informal settlers who were illegally evicted without the processes required by law,” he clarified.

On the same day another demolition occurred at the back of the Lorenzana area at the

Coastal Road

in San Dionisio, Paranaque. Some 76 families were illegally evicted by the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the former Public Estates Authority, and another ten families are still threatened with demolition.

Casuy demanded that the relocation be provided to the displaced urban poor. The protesters brought with them placards with the messages “Moratorium sa Demolisyon at Ebiksyon, Ipatupad!” and “Marahas na Demolisyon at Ebiksyon, Ipatigil!”

Salvacion Hortilano the representative of the victims of violent demolition at the back of Lorenza said, “We ask Mayor Jun Bernabe and the City Council for a dialogue so they can hear our demands. If Lot 5155 in the coastal road is already under the jurisdiction of the City Government of Paranaque, we ask that a parcel of land be provided for the benefit of the informal settlers and not just of the few favored contractors of this administration.” She added, “What is the value of infrastructure projects funded by government money if the poor do not benefit from it?”

AMP is a coalition 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. AMP is a participant in a consultation process initiated by a task force on housing headed by Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government. An output of the consultation process was an executive summary of urban poor demands and a draft order instituting a moratorium that has been forwarded to Malacanang.

Casuy explained that “All these demolitions and evictions are happening due to the fact that a draft executive order for a moratorium remains unsigned by PNoy. The more that PNoy delays signing the draft moratorium order, the more urban poor with be denied the right to decent and secure housing. Akala naming kami ang boss ni PNoy pero bakit wala siyang aksyon sa aming kahilingan at di niya tinototoo ang kanyang pangako?”

Urban poor greet PNoy with picket, call for moratorium on demolitions

Press Release

April 4, 2011

Urban poor members of the Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) and the Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) greeted President Benigno Aquino with a picket as he attended an activity of the local government of Paranaque. Some 100 AMP and PM members in Paranaque positioned themselves in front of the Paranaque City hall as early as 7:30 a.m. today, chanted slogans and held placards with the messages “Moratorium sa Demolisyon at Ebiksyon, Ipatupad!” and “Marahas na Demolisyon at Ebiksyon, Ipatigil!”

AMP is a coalition 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.

Ed Casuy, leader of the AMP-Paranaque, 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.”

Casuy revealed that as recently as March 30 a violent demolition happened at the community of Cherry East Cul de Sac in Barangay Sun Valley, Paranaque that led to the injury of an old woman. “This is a private land inhabited by informal settlers who were illegally evicted without the processes required by law,” he clarified.

Another demolition occurred at the back of the Lorenzana area at the

Coastal Road

in San Dionisio, Paranaque. Some 19 families were illegally evicted by the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the former Public Estates Authority. The urban poor of Cherry East and back of Lorenzana both plan to file cases at the Commission on Human Rights. Casuy insisted that more communities of informal settlers are under threat of demolition.

He explained that “All these demolitions and evictions are happening due to the fact that a draft executive order for a moratorium remains unsigned by PNoy. The more that PNoy delays signing the draft moratorium order, the more urban poor with be denied the right to decent and secure housing. Akala naming kami ang boss ni PNoy pero bakit wala siyang aksyon sa aming kahilingan at di niya tinototoo ang kanyang pangako?”

AMP and PM were participants in a consultation process initiated by a task force on housing headed by Secretary Jesse Robredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government. An output of the consultation process was an executive summary of urban poor demands and a draft order instituting a moratorium that has been forwarded to Malacanang.

“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.

Dasmarinas residents hold dialogue with city mayor

Press Release
March 16, 2011

The leaders of hundreds of Dasmarinas low-cost homeowners and poor residents who picketed the city hall yesterday held a dialogue today with City Mayor Jennifer Barzaga. At 1:00 p.m. the leaders of the residents of City Homes and Sibol in Barangay Sta. Fe together with representatives from the Cavite chapters of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) trooped to the meeting with Mayor Barzaga.

“We thank Mayor Barzaga for listening to the demands of her constituents but we hope that the local government sincerely finds a way to meet their housing needs. Affordable and decent housing is a right that the government should promote,” explained Ramil Cangayao, chairperson of PM-Cavite.

At yesterday’s rally, representatives of Mayor Bargaza agreed to set the dialogue today. The 500-strong protesters however were stopped from entering the city hall compound by guards and told to leave since the mayor was not in the premises. But the protesters stood their ground until the city administrator met them.

They will ask Mayor Barzaga for (1) an investigation on the deal between the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC), the developer of the City Homes subdivision and the private financing firm BFS, (2) condonation of the penalties imposed on the homeowners, and (3) restructuring of the housing loans.

The residents of City Homes are facing foreclosure due to the heavy debts incurred when their housing loans were transferred from government-owned NHMFC to BFS. “Residents of City Homes are now saddled with debts that are more than the market value of their houses due to usurious interest and penalties. The transfer happened without the knowledge of the residents. It is like they were ambushed and now they risk losing their homes which they have partially paid for with hard-earned savings,” Cangayao explained.

Meanwhile the informal settlers of the depressed area of Sibol are asking the local government to expropriate the private land on which their houses are built. Cangayao said that “The city of Dasmarinas has the power to expropriate for the purpose of socialized housing through an ordinance. We are calling on Mayor Barzaga and the city council for the ordinance and budget appropriation in the interest of hundreds of families who have lived in Sibol for years already.”



PM together with AMP and Samahang Nagkakaisa ng Cavite have been campaigning for a moratorium on demolitions and foreclosures. The groups are involved in the consultations being 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.

Hundreds march for housing rights in Dasmarinas, Cavite

Press Release
March 15, 2011

Some 500 residents of Dasmarinas, Cavite marched to call the attention of the local government for their demand of housing security. The marchers assembled at 7:00 a.m. in Sibol in Brgy. Sta Fe then arrived at the Dasmarinas city hall by 8:00 a.m.

“We ask Mayor Jennifer Barzaga to heed the demands of her constituents. Affordable and decent housing is a right that the government should guarantee. We hope that the call of these hundreds of residents of Dasmarinas does not fall on deaf ears,” stated Ramil Cangayao, chairperson of the Cavite chapter of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

The marchers had filed a request for an appointment today with Mayor Barzaga but did not receive a confirmation. The marchers came from residents of City Homes and also the community of Sibol.

The residents of City Homes are facing foreclosure due to the heavy debts incurred when their housing loans were transferred from government-owned National Home Mortgage Financing Corp. to a private financing firm. “Residents of City Homes are now saddled with debts that are more than the market value of their houses due to usurious interest and penalties. The transfer happened without the knowledge of the residents. It is like they were ambushed and now they risk losing their homes which they have partially paid for with hard-earned savings,” Cangayao explained.

Meanwhile the informal settlers of the depressed area of Sibol are asking the local government to expropriate the private land on which their houses are built. Cangayao said that “The city of Dasmarinas has the power to expropriate for the purpose of socialized housing through an ordinance. We are calling on Mayor Barzaga and the city council for the ordinance and budget appropriation in the interest of hundreds of families who have lived in Sibol for years already.”

The march comes on the heels of a protest last March 7 by old tenants in the nearby town of GMA, Cavite due to the threat of a demolition by the local government. The picket at the weekly flag ceremony in the GMA municipal hall caught the attention of some councilors who promised to look in the demand for decent relocation.

PM together with Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino and Samahang Nagkakaisa ng Cavite have been campaigning for a moratorium on demolitions and foreclosures. The groups are involved in the consultations being 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.

Urban poor hold human chain protest to urge PNoy on moratorium on demolitions

Press Release
January 10, 2011
Kilos Maralita

An urban poor group led a human chain and noise barrage protest this morning to call on the government to fulfill the campaign promise of President Benigno Aquino III on a comprehensive reform of the housing program for the poor and a moratorium on demolitions. The group Kilos Maralita is pushing for a three-year moratorium on demolitions, evictions and foreclosures.

Some 300 urban poor from the constituent groups of Kilos Maralita such as the North Triangle Association, LUPA and Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) participated in the protest. The protesters linked arms in a human chain along EDSA from the corner of North Avenue to the corner of Quezon Avenue. They also held a 30-minute noise barrage by banging on pots and pans.

Teody Gacer of Kilos Maralita and leader of the North Triangle residents asserted that “It is high time that PNoy carry out his promise during the presidential campaign. We want government action on a thoroughgoing reform of socialized housing. We demand a three-year moratorium on demolitions.”

Tomorrow Kilos Maralita is going to Malacanang for a dialogue with government officials on their demand. The renewed campaign for a moratorium is in the face of reports that government is going to sign an executive order for a three-month moratorium.

“A three-month moratorium is a sick joke on the urban poor,” Gracer insisted. Representatives of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) will accompany the Kilos ng Maralita leaders in the Malacanang dialogue. CHR and NAPC have formally supported the Kilos Maralita demand for a three-year moratorium.

Urban poor groups hold caravan around QC

Press Release
December 1, 2010
Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino

Some 500 urban poor families from various groups under Kilos Maralita and Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) held a caravan today. They made the rounds of the offices of the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor, the National Housing Authority, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Human Rights, all in QC.

The caravan started at 9:00 am in the corner of Agham Road and North Ave and then ended just after noon. “This is just the kickoff of a sustained campaign to push for a three-year moratorium on demolitions and evictions, and also to engage the PNoy government on its housing program,” declared Michelle Licudine of AMP.

Leaders of Kilos Maralita and AMP also conducted a dialogue with heads of some of the offices to convince them on a three year moratorium on demolitions and evictions, and also to recommend a reform of the housing program and policy to the Aquino administration.

On the other hand at the National Hosing Authority, KM and AMP members locked the gates and served a “Notice to Vacate” to symbolize the inutile program of the office. At the Quezon City Hall meanwhile, protesters called for the reform of its Urban Poor Affairs Office which the groups allege has always been biased to private land developers over the poor communities.

The urban poor are demanding a three-year moratorium on demolitions. Among others, the groups are also concerned about the planned flagship project on flood control that will affected hundreds of thousands of poor families residing in waterways and the shores of Laguna lake.