New settlers from San Juan gripe about relocation site

The informal settlers of Barangay (village) Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City who had fought off demolition crews last week and later chose to relocate to their new homes in Rodriguez, Rizal province, said they found the site hardly livable.

Tricycle driver Rommel Bayani, 40, said he spends P150 for his daily commute from Kasiglahan Village in Barangay San Jose in Rodriguez town to San Juan to ply his route, waking up as early as 4 a.m. to prepare for his two-hour trip to the city.

“It’s not a waste of money but time and effort as well,” he said. “I don’t own the tricycle so I still have to go to San Juan.”

Like Bayani, many in the last batch of relocated residents from the barangay openly expressed their discontent about their current state, but they refused to identify themselves to the media.

Nine persons are still detained at the San Juan police headquarters on several charges. Other families took shelter at the office of the

Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines.

The demolition last Wednesday turned violent when the residents hurled stones, bottles and fire bombs at the government teams that were tasked to dismantle their homes and clear the area for the construction of the new city hall and a one-stop government center.

“We don’t know what to do. My husband also left his job as a taxi driver. We just have this house without water and electricity supply,” said one woman who used to work as a seamstress in San Juan.

Inside her single-story house measuring 32 square meters, their belongings kept in huge bags and boxes remained unopened.

“I am not sure if my children who are supposed to graduate from high school this year can still do so,” she said.

One young mother said the hopelessness of the situation made her agree to the city government’s offer to relocate.

“But when we arrived here, there was no toilet bowl in the rest room and no windows. It’s like we were just thrown here like garbage,” she said.

But Marichu Marquez, finance officer of the National Housing Authority in the Kasiglahan Village relocation site, said the 41 families that have resettled should apply for the water and power connections themselves.

“They keep complaining when in fact the government has already provided them with houses. Others have managed to adjust to their new environment, but some should start changing their attitude,” she said.