In particular, Mrs. Arroyo ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways to review existing infrastructure projects such as the Pasig Rehabilitation Program, North and South Railways and C-5.
In her speech before the urban poor communities at the National Government Center in Quezon City, Mrs. Arroyo agreed that demolition can be avoided if relocation plans are executed well.
To do that, she said, there is a need to review existing projects and the guidelines for relocation.
She said representatives of the urban poor should get involved in the review of the guidelines and changes of the existing guidelines.
Representatives from Samahan ng mga Maralita Para sa Makatao at Makatarungang Paninirahan (SAMA-SAMA), a people’s organization, urged the President to order a stop to all demolition and award government lands to poor families.
Norma dela Torre, SAMA-SAMA president, proposed to the President during a dialogue, to give the 200-hectare East Side of the North Government Center (NGC) to poor families instead of using the land for the construction of new government buildings or commerce.
In their two-page proposal, SAMA-SAMA asked for the identification of government lands for distribution to the poor during the first 100 days of the President in office. SAMA-SAMA proposed the distribution of idle lands to poor families while those already occupied by residents must be given to them instead of their houses being demolished and occupants resettled elsewhere.
Arroyo expressed confidence the housing problem will be resolved with Housing Secretary-designated Rep. Michael Defensor around.
She said Defensor has his own alternative plans for socialized housing that he hopes to implement for the people.
At the same time, Arroyo instructed Defensor to spearhead the inventory of all government lands that could be awarded to squatters.
Initially, she said, Escopa in Quezon City will now be used for socialized resettlement for the poor residing there.
She said she learned that Escopa is owned by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
"I instructed Secretary Defensor to do a comprehensive inventory of government-owned lands so we can distribute them to our urban poor," she said.