[APWSLMembers 482] Demolition along Cabuyao railways starts, residents establish barricades

[KMU International Department]

PAMANTIK-KMU
NEWS RELEASE
19 Pebrero 2007
 
Reference: Luz Baculo, PAMANTIK Secretary-General, Mobile No. 
09193198268
                       Adel Tolentino, KADAMAY-TK Secretary-General, Mobile 
No. 02907067316
 
Demolition along Cabuyao railways starts, residents establish 
barricades
 
More than 300 affected families established barricades as demolition 
started at dawn, today, in railway communities from Barangays Tarikan 
to Sala, in Cabuyao, Laguna.
 
Moises Nicolas from the National Housing Authority (NHA) heads the 
on-going demolition. More than 20 combined elements from the 
Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
accompany the demolition team.  
 
The residents on barricade, organised under Samahan ng 
Mamamayan sa Tabing Riles (SMTR), Kalipunan ng Damayang 
Mahihirap (KADAMAY-Southern Tagalog), at Anakpawis-Cabuyao 
Chapter expressed their protest against the on-going demolition.
 
”We are only defending our homes and our rights,” according to Chito 
Acer, SMTR chairman.
 
The residents were able to prepare earlier for the demolition as soon as 
NHA issued its 7-day notice of demolition on February 9, 2007.
 
Meanwhile, according to Adel Tolentino, KADAMAY-ST 
secretary-general, “Like what happened in demolished communities in 
Metro Manila, there is still no clear relocation program for the affected 
residents.  Vice-President Noli de Castro offers his Community 
Mortgage Program.  However, in actual experience, the CMP is a 
money-making program exploiting further demolished residents.”
 
KADAMAY also lashed out on the use of Southville Cabuyao Citizens 
Volunteer (CCVol) in its involvement in the demolition team.  Southville is 
the relocation site of residents demolished in Metro Manila.
 
”Since there is no livelihood program and jobs available in Southville, 
the government uses and exploits some of its residents in demolishing 
their own kind,” Tolentino said.
 
The residents sought the support of Cabuyao Mayor Nila Aguillo to 
intercede and stop the demolition.  However, the mayor was said to be 
busy on the eve of her birthday tomorrow.
 
Meanwhile, the militant Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Timog 
Katagalugan (PAMANTIK-KMU), expressed support for affected 
residents.
 
“Since the demolition posed as threat to these communities, the workers 
were already in the ranks of those who defend for their homes and rights. 
 Most of these workers live in communities along the railways,” 
according to Luz Baculo, PAMANTIK secretary-general.
 
“As election draws near, candidates vying for different government 
posts should give serious attention on the issue demolition.  The 
workers and the poor communities are challenging their standpoint and 
commitment.”###