Informal settlers block demolition of homes in QC

MANILA, Philippines - Some  150 informal settlers at Sitio San Roque, North Triangle, Quezon City on Monday staged a protest action at city hall to call to stop the impending demolition of their homes next month.

Ricky Indicio, vice-president ng September 23 Movement, said that local government officials have already planned to demolish the shanties along Agham Road, from Quezon Avenue up to North Avenue to make way for the road widening project.

"Ang mga pakanang road at creek widening ay bahagi pa rin ng pangkabuuang plano ng QC-Central Business District ng mga Ayala at NHA. Muli  naming uulitin ang pagbabarikada upang mapigilan ang planong ito. Hindi namin kailangan ang inaalok nilang relokasyon sa Montalban, mamamatay kami doon. Ang nais namin ay isama kami sa pag-unlad, kung kaya ay on-site development ang aming panawagan,"Indicio said

He added that even during the election season, demolitions of urban poor communities have been happening, such as the demolition at Payatas-B allegedly to make way for a commercial housing project, dubbed Bistekville 5 Housing Project.

Houses at Phase 8, Brgy. North Fairview will also be up for demolition as the property is being claimed by a private developer, Right Angle, which will developed the area into a project of townhouses.

Based on the data of Kadamay, an urban poor group, there are about 230,000 informal settler-families in Quezonn City alone. - Dennis Carcamo