QC task force denies Malacañang directive

Quezon City Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr.’s Task Force on Sidewalk Vending denied yesterday that it violated a memorandum order signed by Presidential Management Staff head Vicky Garchitorena when it proceeded with its demolition of about 20 shanties along Old Samson Road in Balintawak, Quezon City two weeks ago.

"As far as I know, there was no violation in the demotion of the shanties," Leslie Villorente, head of the secretariat of the task force said.

Villorente said that there was "misinterpretation of the order" by Urban Poor Associates (UPA), which denounced the demotion in a press statement released earlier this week. "Moreover, the memorandum was addressed to the DPWH Secretary," he added.

The memorandum, dated Feb. 1, 2001, stated that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo gave instructions to the department "to review all pending and incomplete infrastructure projects, to include, among others, C-5, R-10, Pasig River Rehabilitation Program, North and South Railway, Controlled Zones of the National Government Center, and Flood Control Project areas to determine whether or not these projects comply with the requirements of the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) or RA 7279."

The memorandum further stated that the President gave instructions to "stop the issuance of demolition orders or conduct demolition activities in the squatter colonies in these infrastructure project sites." – Nikko Dizon