MANILA, Philippines?A Quezon City councilor on Friday warned the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority against tearing down homes of informal settlers else they would be filing charges against the government agency.

QC Councilor Ariel Inton said that the MMDA should first set up proper relocation sites before dismantling illegal structures and homes.

He added that the MMDA should also coordinate first with local authorities before proceeding with their operations.

"They must assure that they would not pass the problems of resettlement to us, and if the families displaced will be living in the streets," Inton said.

Inton said that information reaching his office revealed that there were already displaced families along Congressional Avenue, whose homes have been dismantled by the MMDA.

However, the city councilor stressed that the local government is supporting MMDA?s clearing operations of so-called danger zones in Metro Manila, particularly illegal structures such as shanties built along creeks, rivers and other waterways that only clogged the water system and caused floods.

But, Inton said, the MMDA should also take into consideration existing laws in housing such as the Lina Law and local ordinances approved by the city council.

Inton added that the MMDA should also first assure the city council that before they tear down illegal shanties, available relocation sites are already set up.