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Philippine government flunks in MDGs as urban poor are made homeless

Manila, Philippines 2007-07-06

 

Philippine Urban Poor Camp Out in Government Housing Agency,

Flunks the Government in MDG Performance

 

Urban poor organizations have given the Philippine government a failing mark on its performance on living up to its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The anti-poverty group, Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP)- Philippines supported this assessment, in light of rampant government demolitions of urban poor settlements done in the name of development.

On 6 July more than 100 representatives from urban poor organizations Kalipunan ng Samahang Maralita sa Pilipinas (KaSaMa-Pilipinas), Piglas Kababaihan, Assalam Bangsamoro People’s Organization, Kilusan para sa Makatarungang Lipunan at Gobyerno and other members of GCAP camped in front of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Quezon City to protest the lack of any relocation and housing plan for those who will be displaced by impending demolitions.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and its 300-person demolition team have been gearing up to demolish the EDSA (E. de los Santos Avenue ) side of the urban poor residential area North Triangle, supposedly as part of a plan to widen EDSA by 30 meters. Many residents of North Triangle are members of Kasama-Pilipinas.

Arroyo Government is Anti-Poor

“This situation shows that the poor have no place in (Philippine president) Arroyo and the Quezon City governments’ development plans,” stated Marivic Raquiza, National Coordinator of GCAP-Philippines.

The Midterm Assessment of the MDGs takes place this year, 2007. The Philippine government promised to halve the marginalized poor by 2015 (MDG 1) and to make significant improvements in the lives of slum-dwellers by 2020 (MDG 7).

“The problem is that the Arroyo government is more concerned in balancing the country’s budget, rather than improving the people’s well-being. What we will have is a balanced budget in such an unbalanced society,” said Prof. Leonor Briones, Convenor of Social Watch Philippines .

No Consultation, No Demolition: Dialogue with the NHA

Urban poor and GCAP leaders sat down with officials of the housing agency NHA to demand a stop to the impending demolition in North Triangle, and push for meaningful consultation between government and residents, as well as a reasonable relocation and concrete housing plan for displaced residents.

NHA officials said that the demolition was out of their hands because of a presidential directive giving power and jurisdiction over such matters to the MMDA. They agreed that the demands of urban poor organizations and GCAP should be upheld. The housing officials also  agreed to raise these issues up with higher authorities and organize subsequent consultation meetings with the urban poor.

“No demolition should take place without any relocation plan, more so without any meaningful consultation,” said Edwin Nacpil, Chairperson of Kasama-Pilipinas.

Demolition in the Name of Development

Nacpil added, “We believe this action of the MMDA is really part of the Central Business District (CBD) plan. The MMDA is simply the henchman who will implement the first phase of the plan, to remove the urban poor residents of the North Triangle and free up the land for business development.”

The CBD plan of Quezon City is based on a presidential directive (EO 260) calling for the creation of the Triangle Development Commission. The Commission will oversee the development of CBD in 250 hectares of land which includes the North Triangle. The plan will displace 16,000 families from North Triangle, and the adjacent areas in East Triangle and Veteran’s Area.

EO 620 superseded an earlier presidential directive (EO 106) which provides for socialized housing for urban poor residents in North Triangle, Quezon City. Ironically, Quezon City is a Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Resource City. An MDG Resource City is expected to implement programs and policy reforms to achieve the eradication of poverty and inequality in the city.

Philippine Government: Anti-MDGs

“The development and growth strategy of both the national and Quezon City governments is anti-poor,” said Nacpil. “Instead of reducing the poor, President Arroyo’s policies will multiply the poor and heighten poverty in the country.”

“The rising incidence of hunger, worsening education and health services for the poor and the impending displacement of 16,000 families in Quezon City illustrate the anti-poor character of the growth and development strategy of the Arroyo government. If these trends continue, realizing the Millennium Development oals (MDGs) by 2015 will be a distant reality for many Filipinos,” Raquiza declared.

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is a worldwide alliance of trade unions, community groups, faith groups, youth and campaigners working together across more than 100 national platforms. GCAP is calling for action from the world’s leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, GCAP demands solutions that address the issues of public accountability, just governance and the fulfillment of human rights as well as trade justice, aid quality and quantity, debt cancellation and gender equality.

Contact:

Marivic Raquiza
National Coordinator, GCAP-Philippines
(632) 9208949

Edwin Nacpil
Chairperson, Kasama-Pilipinas
(632) 9208949

Prof. Leonor Briones
Convenor, Social Watch Philippines
 (632) 920-8949

May-i Fabros
Media Campaigner
+63917-2069803
www.endpovertynow.org.ph

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