Caloocan residents ask court for help vs developer

MANILA, Philippines — After nearly a month without electricity or water, the parent-teacher associations of two schools in Caloocan City filed a petition to restrain a real estate developer from preventing the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) from restoring service to Pangarap Village.

In a petition for a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction filed on Thursday before the Caloocan City regional trial court, Reynaldo Oflash and Esther Dacanay said Carmel Development Inc. (CDI)’s act of prohibiting Meralco from restoring power to Pangarap Elementary School and Pangarap High School, as well as to the homes of 33,000 residents of Barangays 181 and 182, violates the rights of thousands of students.    

Pangarap Village is the subject of a land dispute between the residents and CDI.

The petitioners said CDI’s decision could lead to the shutdown of the two public schools.  

The lack of power and water in the area started in mid-August when an electric post along the national highway collapsed during heavy rains. 

 Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan has asked Meralco to restore electricity to households on the 156-hectare property. Meralco said CDI’s security personnel barred its repair crew from entering Pangarap Village.