Anti-demolition network slams slow action by BFP in fire incident in QC [Warns LGU, NHA not to offer relocation programs to the victims]

PRESS RELEASE l 20 NOVEMBER 2011
CONTRA-CBD l ALYANSA KONTRA DEMOLISYON
Reference for Interview: Carlito Badion, CONTRA-CBD Spokesperson (09393873736)

After a fire razed an urban poor community in East Triangle, Brgy Pinyahan in Quezon City this morning, a network of urban poor settlers, government employees, students and other groups condemns the slow action of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) against fires especially in communities that are affected by the implementation of Quezon City-Central Business District (QCCBD).

‘At least one person was reported killed while some 1,500 families face a bleak Christmas after losing their homes to the fire incident before dawn Sunday’ according to a report of radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus. ‘Some 500 houses were affected in the fire that started at 1:18 a.m. and was placed under control at 5 a.m.’

Concerned Organizations Against Transfer, Lay-Off, Privatization and Demolition for the Quezon City Central Business Distirct (CONTRA-CBD) in a statement said, “whether the cause of the fire is proven natural or man-made, we all know who will benefit from the tragedy. Those who have long been aiming to eradicate the big urban poor communities that stand as hindrance to the World Bank-funded Ayala business district in QC will have something to celebrate at.”

“It took more than four hours before the BFP took the fire under control. The same slow action by the BFP reminds us of the fire incident that happen in Napocor Village, along Agham Road also in East Triangle in February last year, and the fire that engulfed Sitio San Roque in North Triangle in the previous years,” said Carlito Badion, CONTRA-CBD spokesperson.

”Fire has remained the fastest, cheapest and most ‘innocent’ means of demolition of homes of urban poor settlers. Especially when the residents are well prepared to fend off demolition teams hired by the LGU and the National Housing Authority,” Badion added.

Other big urban poor communities in five barangays in QC that are affected by the QCCBD had been razed by fire in the past, including Palanas village in Brgy Vasra, Sitio San Roque and San Isidro in Brgy Bagong Pag-asa, and Napocor and BIR communities in Brgy Central.

The network warned the National Housing Authority and QC Mayor Herbert Bautista not to offer relocation programs in Montalban to the fire victims, like what they did to the fire victims in the Napocor Village. “Food, water, wood and housing materials are what the fire victims need. Do not aggravate their suffering by throwing them to poverty-stricken relocation sites,” said Badion.

CONTRA-CBD also called on the residents to stay alert at night, and operate their Brigada Kontra-Sunog, a local initiative of the residents against fire, especially the residents of Sitio San Roque in North Triangle who have been served with notice of evictions last Nov 15, and are due to be evicted before December after President Aquino ruled out any onsite-relocation option for the residents, according to a report gathered by the network.###