RELEASE l August 30, 2011
Even after the Office of Mayor Herbert Bautista has extended the deadline for the families of Sitio San Roque to relocate to Rodriguez, Rizal, resident of Sitio San Roque, North Triangle are way-ahead prepared in defending their communities, as they hold an interfaith mass today and a vigil until tomorrow.
Yesterday, the city mayor announced a statement of withdrawal from pursuing the eviction of some 3,000 families from Sitio San Roque, North Triangle in an interview in DZMM Teleradyo. Last August 5, the Quezon City LGU announced to media its plan together with the NHA to evict the residents to jumpstart the long-delayed implementation of the Quezon City-Central Business District.
The QCCBD project is a joint-venture between the NHA and Ayala Land, Inc to develop the 250-heactares prime lots at the center of Quezon City that are presently occupied by not less than 20,000 urban poor families. After, the violent demolition attempt in Sito San Roque last September 2010, some 5,000 families have voluntary transferred to Rodriguez, Rizal and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Half of them according to Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, a national urban poor group, has come back to the community and sold their housing units.
They don''t credit our mayor's words for he has always been not on the side of the QC urban poor, and in connivance with the big businessmen and foreign capitalist who will earn from taking away the lands that the poor have developed in years'" said Estrelieta Bagasbas, chairperson of a San Roque coalition called September 23 Movement. The name is attributed to the inglorious community siege by demolition team and the police last year.
"That many old residents are coming back to San Roque speaks of the righteousness of our call to stay and defend our community," she added. “We have designed every aspect of our barricades to thwart any attempt by NHA and the police to demolish our community. We have been on high alert starting August 27.”
Asked if they are fully ready to barricade EDSA as they did last year, Bagasbas said, “absolutely, if that's the only thing that could oblige PNoy to interfere and stop his demolition rampage of urban poor communities in favor of big businessmen like Ayala”
Inspiring action
“We feel it as our obligation to stand our ground as hundreds of other communities nationwide are to be demolished to give way to Aquino's “economic development projects.” They are very eager to see us succeed another demolition attempt,” Bagasbas added.
“At the same time, we expect public commuters to understand us for we don't have choice for this government has already turned deaf to our legitimate demands. Barricading EDSA will remain essential as thousands of urban poor remain as victims to the government's failure to address the housing problem in urban centers and its penchant for big businesses at the expense of its citizens losing homes and sources of livelihood,” she said.
“We'll make sure Aquino will regret it if his government continues in demolishing our homes,” the local leader warned.
Reference: Carlito Badion, Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon Lead Convener (09393873736)
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