‘Estero’ dwellers to resist demolition

MANILA, Philippines—Carlito Badion of Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon said Tuesday that they will defend their homes amid the impending demolition of houses built in danger zones.

Shanties of informal settlers line the waterways of Metro Manila. INQUIRER file photo

“Hindi relokasyon ang sagot. . . nariyan man ang mga maralita  o wala, talagang babaha dahil sa pag babago ng klima ng ating bayan,” Badion said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM, as he argued that real problem lies with reclamation projects, particularly at the Manila Bay.

(Relocation is not the solution…floods happen whether there are informal settlers or not because of the climate change.)

While the government had said it is offering P18,000 to each family living along esteros for them to pay rent for a safe place to live for a year, Badion stressed that the government should provide jobs with decent pay.

“At alisin itong mga pribatisasyon,” he said.

Badion said their group, at the very least, was not consulted by concerned authorities on the planned demolition that is set for implementation two weeks from now.

“The existing relocation offers to urban poor are all profit-driven ‘socialized’ housing programs, created and managed by the closest allies of President Aquino, the likes of New San Jose Builders owner Jerry Accuser and his brother-in-law Paquito Ochoa,” Estrellita Bagasse, spokesperson of Alyansa Kontra Demolisyon, said in a separate statement

For the full interview, listen to the audio clip from Radyo Inquirer 990AM.