A scuffle broke out on Thursday on Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila, between the victims of Friday’s fire and teams from the Philippine Ports Authority after the latter barred the residents from rebuilding their homes on government-owned property.
The May 11 fire displaced more than 5,000 people at the slum community, which falls under PPA’s jurisdiction. They were briefly given shelter at the Del Pan sports complex and were told by City Hall about a relocation site awaiting them in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
But some residents left the gym on Thursday and started bringing construction materials to Isla Puting Bato to rebuild their homes—only to see the barriers put up by the PPA to keep them out of the site.
About 50 people breached the fences Thursday. Some were pushed back by PPA security guards but others got through and went on to salvage anything useful from the ruins.
In an interview, Ricardo de Guzman, chief of staff of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, said the PPA had sought City Hall’s help in preventing the residents from returning to the site, citing “safety issues.”
The agency was concerned that PPA facilities “not designed for residential uses” might end up being occupied, De Guzman said.
The PPA also noted that, lacking a sewerage system, the informal settlers also “significantly contribute to the pollution in Manila Bay.”
De Guzman said the decision to keep the fire victims out was PPA’s call. “We can only appeal to the National Housing Authority for immediate relocation of the victims,” he said.