Parola folk to get lots, GMA vows

Poor families living in the Parola district in Manila will no longer be evicted and instead be awarded the lots on which they live for them to set up their businesses in the area, President Arroyo announced yesterday.

In an interview over a radio program hosted by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, the President said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), which has jurisdiction over the district, has agreed to relocate its project in the area to the reclamation site in Manila.

"I immediately got the concurrence of the PPA to convert the place into an urban land reform area. It would be better because there would be no need to relocate the families there and incur social costs," she said.

The President made an unscheduled visit to the area recently to see for herself the plight of the families there. She said the poor families were about to be driven out over a misunderstanding of an earlier proclamation that saddled the residents with huge debts which they could no longer afford to pay. She ordered the PPA and housing czar Michael Defensor to personally set up a viable housing program for Parola residents.

A medical and dental clinic with complete facilities and an ambulance would also be set up by the Army engineering brigade in the area for the residents, Mrs. Arroyo said.

A micro financing program for livelihood opportunities will also be drawn up. The same program would be duplicated in other urban poor communities in the country.