Urgent Appeal f…
Urgent Appeal filed to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing
Regarding the Worsening Condition of Families in the Relocation
We, concerned citizens, organizations, networks and advocates of housing rights strongly appeal to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing to investigate the worsening condition of families in the relocation sites and give concrete recommendations and actions to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to genuinely uplift the working and living condition of the relocated families and stop forced eviction.
We conducted a Fact Finding Mission on January 30 and February 2, 2011 in two relocation sites of the National Housing Authority. These are Southville 8-B and Southville 1-K-1 in Montalban, Rodriguez, Rizal. The developers are Baque Corporation and New San Jose Builders respectively.
We interviewed relocatees and conducted two Focus Group Discussions attended by community leaders and residents. Below is our findings:
Cause of Relocation
Most of them are forcibly evicted in former communities in R 10 Navotas City, Corazon de Jesus, San Juan City, San Roque, North Triangle, Quezon City and Tatalon, Quezon City due to the implementation of projects of the government and business sector.
On Jobs and Livelihood
The relocatees’ livelihoods in former communities are vendors, construction workers, drivers, sales lady, security guards and massage therapist. They are earning from P50-500 per day. Others became jobless after the forced eviction and relocation. Some retain their work and source of livelihood in Metro Manila but spend very high on transportation ranging from P70-250 going to work and back to the relocation site. Others rented rooms near their work and spend P500-1000 per month.
The government promised them livelihood program in the relocation but it did not happened. A training program on soap making was conducted but did not prosper because the residents have no funds to buy the raw materials and there was no plan for the marketing and sustainability of the livelihood program.
The women in the relocation sites strive to live by setting up sari-sari store and selling foods inside the community. However, many have already closed due to lack of capital and unpaid accounts. While other men work in the construction site earning P150-200 a day and have no benefits.
On Security of Tenure
All of the interviewed residents do not have the Contract Agreement with them. They have signed the agreement but do not fully know about the content of the contract with the National Housing Authority. In fact, in their answers on how much is the cost of the housing unit, it varies from P100 000 to 200 000.
Right now, they have no title over the land and house but only the orange and green entry pass issued to them by the National Housing Authority. This is the only paper proving their rights to the house.
On the Availability of Materials, Services and Infrastructure
Thousands of relocatees endured with no water and electricity for more than one (1) year. Many children and residents were sick. This is contrary to the commitment of the National Housing Authority to provide the basic needs of the relocatees before they were relocated on 2010.
During these times, they get water from artesian well or water delivery from the developer and also buy purified water for drinking. The water was only connected last December 2011.
The electricity connections are sub meters from Baque Corporation and New San Jose Builders. In Southville 8-B, the residents are seriously facing problems on irregularities, high payment of system loss, overpricing in the electricity bill ranging from P16.75 to P23 per kilowatt per hour and also the compulsory payment of flat rate of P375 or a minimum of 10 kilowatt per month.
Regarding garbage disposal, the garbage is collected once to twice a month by Truck Collector of the local government of Rodriguez, Rizal. Because of this, residents burn their garbage or dump them in the nearby creek.
The housing units have cracked floors and walls, exposed sockets and fuse box, door knobs damage and leaked water pipes. The steel bars used is 8mm, hollow block is 4 inches width and very thin galvanized roof.
On Common Illness and Causes
The common illnesses are cough, fever, diarrhea, dengue, asthma and ulcer which is caused by the extreme temperature changes, dust from nearby quarrying sites and hunger.
On Accessibility of Hospitals, Schools and Market
There is only health center and infirmary in two relocation sites where there is no medicine and doctors. There are private hospitals in Montalban but the residents cannot afford it. The nearest public hospital is in Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Marikina City which is too far from the relocation sites. Other residents still go to East Avenue Medical Center or in any public hospitals in Metro Manila.
Many children stopped schooling after the forced eviction. Others continue schooling in the schools near the relocation sites such as Southville 8-B National High School, Pamatasan ng Montalban and. However, the said schools cannot provide enough and conducive classroom and schooling to the children of thousands of relocatees. The number of students in one classroom is ranging from 70-130 students while the class hours particularly in the elementary is only 3 hours in Southville 8-B. School drop outs continue as children did not attend to school anymore because of hunger and poverty.
There are nearby market in the relocation sites and the prices of goods are; Rice-P32-40/kilo, Pork-P180-190/kilo, Chicken-P140-150/kilo and fish for P100-140/kilo. Some said that the prices are just the same in Manila and most of them said that the quality is not good.
On Children’s Situation
Many children are malnourished and others did not attend school anymore. There are reports on missing children, drug addiction and also child prostitution. There were no reports of rape, abuse or incest. There is no playground and day care centers.
On Women and Violence
Life in the relocation site is very hard for the women especially in terms of livelihood and coping up for the daily needs of the family. The women find it very difficult to take good care of the family alone. Their husbands and children are working in Metro Manila and nearby provinces like Cavite and Bulacan. And they seldom go home to save their money. Women are budgeting a very small income and most of the time they eat instant noodles or fried fish instead of nutritious food to their family. Worst, they skip meals because there is nothing to eat.
Most of the women are worried and pressured to find money to pay for the monthly amortization of the house and utility bills.
Location
The area of Montalban Rizal is a declared fault line area that is why from the very start, the area is not conducive and safe for the people to live. There are also quarrying sites operating in the mountains of Rodriguez Rizal that cause the destruction of the environment.
On Peace and Order
The security volunteers (Tanod) are complaining about lack of street lights and also in their post. They also raised about the lack of food allowances for the volunteers from the barangay.
There are many cases and reports of robbery and hold up operations inside the relocation sites. Items robbed are money, kitchen utensils, containers, appliances and including steamed rice and other food. New relocatees are always victims of robbery.
Overall Analysis
The living and working condition of the relocatees worsened especially in terms of jobs, livelihood, access to social services and the condition of women and children. Some relocatees already went back and plan to go back to former places in Metro Manila or else they will die in hunger in the relocation site. Others have already resorted to pawn or sell their right to the housing unit for P60 000 to 80 000.
Based on the 7 standards of the United Nations, the two relocation sites failed:
- Location. The housing program of government in Southville 8-B and 1-K-1 cuts off the employment and livelihood opportunities and other services.
- Security of Tenure. It did not provide security of tenure to the residents which will guarantee legal protection against forced eviction, harassment and other threats. The residents only have the entry pass.
- Availability of Materials, Services and Infrastructure. It does not have safe drinking water, proper drainage and regular waste disposal.
- Affordability. It is not affordable because the cost of the monthly amortization and utilities threatens and compromise the enjoyment of their right to food and other basic needs were sacrificed.
- Habitability. It is not habitable because the area is a declared danger area and fault line by the national government. There are also quarry operations all around the relocation sites which caused a very dusty environment. Due to deforestation of the mountains, the weather is extremely changing. Some areas already experienced flood during typhoons and heavy rains.
- Accessibility. It is not accessible because the poor residents do not have adequate access in terms of health and education.
- Cultural Adequacy. It does not respect the cultural needs of the people especially in terms of education. Children stopped schooling and those attending school are not provided enough education.
The condition of the two relocation sites is also reflected in many relocation sites, staging areas and resettlement areas of the government.
Recommendations
To the United Nations
- To investigate the condition of residents in the relocation sites.
- To give concrete recommendations to the Philippine Government to meaningfully improve the living condition of the residents.
To the government of the Philippines
- To resolve immediately the problems of the residents in the relocation sites.
- Provide decent and real jobs and livelihood to the people
- Provide adequate classrooms, teachers and other school needs.
- Provide accessible hospitals, free medicines and regular doctors and nurses in the health centers.
- Renovate and repair the housing units.
- Provide direct and free (affordable) access to water and electricity.
- Regular garbage disposal system.
- Provide street lights and programs to ensure the security, peace and order in the community.
- Resolve the irregularities and over pricing of electricity bills in Southville 8-B.
- Provide security of tenure to the relocatees.
- 2. To stop the forced evictions and relocation programs because it did not give better condition to the affected families but only worsened their living and working condition.
- Posted in: Complaints
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