'Informal settlers' seek intervention of CHR against demolitions

MANILA, Philippines – Hundreds of families affected by a renewed government campaign against squatting in Metro Manila marched on Tuesday to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office to appeal for help, a GMA News report said. The report aired over QTV’s Balitanghali news program said the informal settlers asked CHR chairperson Leila de Lima to include them in the coverage of the writ of amparo’s protection provisions. The writ of amparo – institutionalized mainly to address extrajudicial killings – has privileges and judicial remedies on human rights to protect the poor. De Lima met with the protesters and told them that the Supreme Court is already mulling over the expansion of the coverage of judicial remedies on human rights to include the homeless. Chief Justice Reynato Puno himself recommended that the writ of amparo’s coverage will be expanded to protect "the economic, social and cultural rights of the poor, which includes protection from demolitions." The urban poor groups complained that workers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) were in the forefront of harsh and illegal demolitions – most of which were reportedly made without prior consultations and notifications. They added that the MMDA has violated Section 28 of the Urban Development and Housing Act which requires demolition crews to provide relocation areas to those who lost their homes. “Kung mayroong paglilipatang maayos ay ilipat diyan. Kaso wala namang in-oofer ang MMDA (They should be transferred to available relocation sites. But the MMDA has not been making any offer)," an informal settler said. Earlier in the day, the MMDA demolished squatter houses along the stretch of Kalayaan Avenue in East Rembo, Makati City, leaving hundreds of families homeless. Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Pasig River Relocation Commission (PRRC) on Tuesday as well inaugurated the Cardinal Sin Village, a relocation area in Sta. Ana, Manila for 1,000 residents from an "informal" settlement near Pasig River. PRRC officials said the relocation of the informal settlers – the major contributors of pollutants in the Pasig River - will help the cleaning operations in the river. “It’s an improvement from where they are now plus malilinis natin ang Pasig River," said PRRC Executive Director architect Deogracias Tablan. The Cardinal Sin Village includes a school, a church, a basketball court, and a building elevator. - Sophie Dedace, GMANews.TV