Urban poor groups hit P-Noy’s PPP programs

An organization advocating for the rights of the urban poor sees “more deaths and violence” in the remaining years of the Aquino administration should “priority economic development projects” under public-private partnerships (PPP) continue to be implemented.

In a statement, the Urban Poor Resource Center of the Philippines Inc. (UPRCP) said “hundreds” of urban poor communities in the National Capital Region and neighboring areas would be “wiped out” once the economic projects, mostly joint ventures with foreign investors, are implemented.

It issued the statement following a shooting incident in Caloocan City on Saturday, where two civilians holding a demolition vigil were killed by private security personnel.

The organization is composed of people’s organizations based in urban poor communities, and health organizations.

At least 360,000 families face eviction because of these priority projects, the majority of which are tied up with big foreign investors, the UPRCP said.

The UPRCP said that because of this, the urban poor sector would face a dark future unless the Aquino administration makes significant changes in its economic policies.

These changes should favor the urban poor and not  big businesses,  it added.

Meanwhile, a militant organization continued to slam Aquino’s PPP programs, calling them “antipoor” and “procapitalist.”

Estrelieta Bagasbas, Alyansa Kontra Demolition national spokesperson, said  the Aquino administration’s economic policies under the PPP were “more inclined” to help the landlords, big businesses and foreign capitalists than the poor.