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Friday, July 19, 2013

Urban poor groups brace for a bigger mob on SONA

QUEZON City--Residents of Plastikan community in Dona Nicasia, Barangay Commonwealth are bold to announce their plan to join the people’s protest during President Aquino’s State of the National Address on July 22 by 'hook or by crook'. This despite the restrictions issued by the police on staging protests near the Batasan Complex on Monday.

The residents from Plastikan community who in recent months were threatened to be evicted from their only source of livelihood--recycling plastic sheets saved from the Payatas Landfill by washing them on a creek—say they have every reason to join the big protest,

Early this morning, members of Samahang Nagkakaisa sa Plastikan-KADAMAY will stage a protest-march inside their community to invite fellow residents to join their protest on Monday.

Just this week, the resident of Dona Nicasia received news of an impending demolition of their homes for a road-right of way project by the local government of Quezon City. Last February, residents had received threats from a private businessmen claiming to be the owner of their land.

According to Normelito Rubis, leader of the group, “In reality, all we got the three years of the Aquino administration is intensified poverty, misery and oppression. Unless he is ousted, we are destined with an even darker future. We won’t be silent about this for the sake of our families.”

Rubis also lambasted the well-publicized 7.8% economic growth under the Aquino administration, saying the prosperity only fell to the big businessmen and the few elites. He added that only 40 wealthy families have amassed considerable profit under the three years of the Aquino administration, including the president’s Cojuangco clan.

Recycled calls

Meanwhile, the residents have also prepared placards and streamers made from recycled materials, such as rice sacks and paints salvaged from the Payatas Landfill. Aside from the big protest on Monday, Rubis’ group is gearing up this afternoon for the Metro Manila-wide community protests against demolition to be staged by KADAMAY and Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon.

While without definite number, militant group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), together with Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon, vows to mobilize thousands of urban poor in Metro Manila and in other key cities in the country on July 22. This as the Philippine National Police assumes that there will be bigger urban poor contingent in this year’s protest due to the massive demolition plan of the national government.

“These days, every urban poor who are threatened to be evicted from his community, or those who cannot find enough income to feed his family, should not think twice in bringing his demand into the street,” said Carlito Badion, KADAMAY national secretary-general.

Fair share

“Quezon City has the biggest chunk of the 580,000 informal settler families in the National Capital Region that are targets by the Aquino administration for relocation, at 194,287 ISFs,” Badion added.

“We received data from the local government of QC that at least 59 urban poor communities in Quezon City are bound to be evicted from their homes by the Bautista administration within this year. Surely, QC will have her fair share of the urban poor who will storm the Batasan Complex on Monday,” ended Badion.

References:
Carlito Badion, KADAMAY national secretary-general, 09393873736
Normelito Rubis, Samahang Nagkakaisa sa Plastikan-KADAMAY, 09327208012

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