A YOUNG boy helps pick up what’s left of his family’s shanty after last week’s demolition of a slum colony on Agham Road to make way for a new business district in Quezon City. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines – Despite violent clashes between informal settlers and authorities, Malacañang on Sunday said the demolition at Agham Road in Quezon City “ended well.”
“I think that ended well in the sense na the day after ay…sila-sila na rin po ‘yung nagbaklas ‘nung kanilang mga bahay at ‘yung kanilang mga structure doon,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press briefing.
(I think that ended well in the sense that the day after…they were the ones who dismantled their own houses and structures.)
Valte said that while there was an initial confrontation last Jan. 27, the residents were able to calm down and “took it upon themselves to cooperate.”
Inquirer earlier reported that the residents will be relocated to a resettlement site in Bulacan. Meanwhile, the cleared area, owned by the National Housing Authority (NHA), will be developed as part of the city’s Central Business District.
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