Makati to push through with demolition

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government said yesterday it has acquired all the legal requirements needed to “peacefully” push through with the demolition of 236 houses built on a city government-owned property on Guatemala street in Barangay San Isidro.

In a statement, acting city administrator Marjorie de Veyra said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through city director Gloria Aguhar, validated a certificate of compliance issued and signed by Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay last July 1.

The certificate states that “all procedures required by law to effect a peaceful and orderly demolition were complied with.”

De Veyra, who is also Makati Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) chief, explained that the city has “exhausted all legal means to arrive at a peaceful resolution to the issue.”

“In fact, the city government had been holding dialogues with the concerned families and barangay officials since 2005, and we have given them reasonable options for a win-win situation,” De Veyra said.

The demolition of the houses was scheduled Thursday but did not push through after residents barricaded the area.

The city government offered the informal settlers three options: voluntary relocation to a resettlement area in Calauan, Laguna; P24,240 financial assistance for those who opt to relocate elsewhere; and free fare and baggage fees and three-day food assistance for those who opt to go back to their home provinces.

The barangay chairman said 30 families availed of the relocation, while nine chose the financial assistance. None of them, however, wanted to go back to the provinces.

De Veyra said relocatees in Laguna will be entitled to free lots measuring 40 to 60 square meters each, food assistance for three days, and programs implemented by a satellite office of the city government such as cash for work, food for work, capability building and livelihood programs.