[Socialized housing project for whom?] Payatas residents on high alert vs possible demolition of homes

After setting up their barricade yesterday, members of Samahan ng Maralitang Magkakapitbahay sa Payatas (SMMP) in Payatas are on high alert this morning to guard their homes against possible demolition by the local government of Quezon City as the deadline set for them to voluntarily dismantle their homes lapses.

Residents held a noise barrage this morning, which is also a part of the people's protest to be launched today by different groups.

At least two families have received notices of eviction from Task Force COPRISS last March 15 giving them 5 days to dismantle their structures. The demolition of the said structures will pave the way for the construction of the 8-meter main road of Bistekville 5 housing project to be built in a 1.6 hectare-lot occupied by some 400 urban poor families.

But according to Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), majority of the residents in the area have rejected the the said housing project as they say that only the privileged residents of Quezon City can avail of the said housing program. 

According to Estrelieta Bagasbas, KADAMAY national vice chair, “families who will be evicted from the land which they have occupied in the last two decades are offered off-city relocations by the LGU as experienced by families earlier evicted from the neighborhood last February.”

Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City has well used the plight of the poor to advance his interest as a businessmen. The construction of QC LGU's Bistekville housing projects have records of violent eviction of QC residents in the past raising. It is never a housing for the poor as requirements to avail a unit in a Bistekville housing project like certifcate of employment and compensation and the latest pay slip, and the monthly payment is beyond the capacity of urban poor.

A regular row house which has a 28-square meter lot area, and 27-sq. Meter floor area costs P400,000 for PAG-IBIG members, according to the Urban Poor Affairs Office at the city hall.

Meanwhile, residents vow to prevent the construction of Bistekville-5, as they challenge the masqueraded housing business of the LGU of Quezon City. ###

Reference: Ricky Luceno, Samahan ng Maralitang Magkakapitbahay sa Payatas officer, 0929.354.2949