PRESS RELEASE l March 23, 2012
Reference: Joy Lumawod, KADAMAY-NCR Chairperson (0922.5184919)
Thousands of people from different militant urban poor groups will march the streets of Metro Manila today to mark and defy the eve of the 20th year of implementation of Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA). According to the group, the said law, implemented on March 24, 1992, legalized the demolitions, forced evictions, arsons and various forms of destruction of the lives and livelihoods of the people to give way to various projects and businesses of foreign investors.
Since its enactment, UDHA had been referred to by various government officials as an added “excuse” to implement their developmental projects. But UDHA’s existence for the past 20 years did nothing but to further the attacks on the lives and livelihoods of the poor. The law did not serve for the people, rather, it served big businessmen and capitalists, the likes of Ramos, Arroyo, and Aquino, and foreign investors. It legalized demolitions and was a policy made according to the dictate of foreign investors and local capitalist in the form of Public-Private Partnership Projects.
“It is very clear that the current government has no plans of developments that includes and are for the poor people. What the government have are development projects that will not only destroy the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, but are in direct observance to foreign investors’ demands. The government itself announced last year that there will be a massive relocation of more than 556, 000 families. For us, this only means one thing – demolition. And with demolitions comes nothing but the destruction of our lives, our homes, our livelihoods”, says Joy Lumawod, KADAMAY-NCR Chairperson.
It may be recalled that the government issued the said statement last year in lieu of the various Public-Private Partnership Programs that are on its plan of implementation to fulfil its Philippine Development Plan. These PPP Programs includes the reclamation of the Freedom Island and LRT 1 extension in Parañaque-Las Piñas, the constructions of the North Bay Boulevard Business Park in Navotas, the National Government Center and Central Business District in Quezon City, the MRT 7 extension in Pangarap Village, amongst the list of more than 50 PPP Programs.
Lumawod also added, “Aside from the constant threat of demolitions and forced evictions, the poor people are also gravely affected by increasing oil and petroleum and other basic commodities and services’ price hikes. It is not enough for the government to destroy our physical abode and means of livelihood and subsistence. With its other anti-people, pro-businessmen and capitalists policies such as the Oil Deregulation Law and 12% E-Vat on basic commodities and oil products, they are placing far more burden for the poor people to shoulder. But the people will no longer carry further burdens passed by the government. Our collective action today to scream and let out our demands is a clear sign of our unity.”
“Various militant groups will assemble and march from their local communities and will join us one in Mendiola in demanding the immediate action of the government to repeal UDHA and to scrap the Oil Deregulation Law and 12% E-Vat on basic commodities and oil products. It is now time for the people to uprise and to strengthen their fight for their rights to their jobs, homes and social justice. This day will only mark the ever-growing unity and strength of the people and will continue so long as the government in power does not heed the people’s demands,” Lumawod ended. ###
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