New units have no power or water, say settlers moved from Manggahan Floodway

Informal settlers whose homes along Manggahan Floodway were demolished expressed dismay over the lack of power and water in the relocation sites the government offered them.

Wednesday's demolition may not have seen a confrontation between the demolition team and the more than 700 families of East Bank Road in Pasig City, but the evicted residents still felt bad about their new residences, according to a report by Ivan Mayrina for Balitanghali.

"Wala naman po kaming resistance na manatili dito; ang sinasabi lang namin, yung relokasyong dapat ihanda po sa amin... " said Jennalyn David, general secretary of the Alliance of People's Organizations Along Manggahan Floodway.

The medium-rise housing project just across the now-demolished area is reportedly delayed by three years, and still does not have water and electricity services.

Worse, some residents have not yet been allocated a new housing unit, still according to the report.

Another resident also expressed disappointment but said moving on from the demolition was necessary.

"Ikaw ba naman, sisirain yung bahay mo. Utang pa nga yan, pangbili ng yero, pero ganun talaga sir, kailangan mag-move on eh, kailangang tanggapin," said Jackson Fulgerinas, whose belongings amassed from 25 years of living on Floodway lay on the road after the demolition.

The relocation housing units were so bad, it seemed, that some residents who were already offered new places eventually returned to Floodway.

A resident said she had grabbed the opportunity for relocation, but found the unit "could not be used," so she went back to Floodway, only to see her home demolished.

The riverbank houses that were demolished stood on what is considered as a danger area, said Noni Rivera of the Urban Poor Affairs Office of the Pasig government.

He also said the residents' concern over basic utilities is "secondary."

"Secondary na lang kasi yung mga sinasabi nila na walang toilet, bibigyan 'yan ng solusyon. Kasi nga kung kailangan ang mga portalet, bibigyan yan ng Metro[politan] Manila Development Authority, at yung mga, yung NHA naman yung kanilang contractor ay maglalagay yan ng mga temporary na mga kuryente at mga tubig," he said.

Aside from relocation, the displaced residents were also given P20,000 in assistance, and free rides were provided for those who would be moving to more distant areas. — Nicole-Anne Lagrimas/BM, GMA News