GWP: In-City Housing Program, Not Evictions And Relocation

"Urban poor residents continue to be harassed by threats of demolitions and evictions as local governments ‘clean up’ their cities. But we remain firm in our stand that an in-city, low-cost housing program is the best solution to the housing problems of urban poor families and communities,” said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Emmi De Jesus during a housing consultation with various urban poor leaders on May 15, 2011.

“In the consultation, we were informed of a significant number of families who, after being 'thrown out of the cities and into relocation sites', were forced to return to the city due to lack of employment opportunities and other basic government social services important for their survival. This situation will continue to be a common scenario in all relocation sites for as long as the government remains irresponsive to the needs and blind to the realities that urban poor families face. Representatives of these varied urban poor communities also related how joblessness, low wages, and high prices of basic commodities aggravate their situation, resulting to their inability to amortize for the housing units offered by government," added De Jesus.

"Note the cases of perennial threats of demolition in urban poor communities like Brgy. Jose Corazon De Jesus and Brgy. San Roque. We do not want another bloody confrontation like what happened in Laperal community on April 27, 2011. It is the women and children who are mostly affected by demolitions and evictions because they have the strongest desire to keep their family together in a safe home and community. Relocating them to sites where sources of income and other basic government social services are absent is not a livable option. As a matter of survival, again and again they will be pushed into returning back to the cities where they have more chances at possibilities of livelihood,” explained De Jesus.

“GWP is serious in its call to the Aquino administration to sign an indefinite moratorium on demolition and eviction pending investigation on the conditions and irregularities in government low-cost housing projects. We reiterate that government should start working on an in-city relocation and employment program that will truly benefit the urban poor communities” ended De Jesus. ###