Protest stops demolition of Adventist property

Protesting residents and churchgoers in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City, forced the city government on Monday to stop demolishing a portion of a compound occupied by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

A demolition team from the National Government Center under the National Housing Authority was forced to suspend the demolition of sections of the Commonwealth Adventist Elementary School and the Adventist church on IBP Road.

Team leader Roland Talento said the demolition was in line with a reblocking project approved by City Hall under a development plan for the east side of Barangay Commonwealth.

The plan calls for the opening of a three-meter wide road that would cut into the area of the school and the church as well as into some residential lots. It also provides for the construction of commercial areas and redistribution of lands in the area.

Talento’s team had to stop the demolition after affected residents and churchgoers aired their opposition.

Adventist pastor Nehemias Macatiag said the school and church should not be part of the reblocking project under the Housing and Land Utilization Act of 2003.

He said the church in Barangay Commonwealth had been in existence since the 1970s and that the school was established in 1985.

Another pastor, Jun Canoso said, also sought an assurance from the city government that the church and school would not be touched.

Longtime resident Fe Embiado, 65, said she was surprised by the arrival of the Talento’s 10-man crew since she received no prior notice about the demolition.

She said residents only learned about the operation after hearing loud pounding noises from the behind the church.