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THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said
Wednesday it will go ahead and demolish squatter shanties along main
waterways even if local governments object.
MMDA Legal Chief Emmanuel de
Castro explained that clearing the waterways is a major part of the
agency’s flood control duties.
“The flood control function was
transferred to the MMDA from the Department of Public Works and
Highways a few years ago by the President. We cannot just abandon
that responsibility because we will be charged with dereliction of
duty,” de Castro said.
He was reacting to a resolution
of the Pasay City council seeking a moratorium on the demolition of
shanties along the Estero Tripa de Gallina. About 60 shanties on the
Makati City and Pasay side of the estero were torn down Wednesday.
Pasay officials tried to impose a
moratorium on demolition until city hall finds suitable land to
relocate the squatters in.
“It is a bad precedent. Imagine
what effect it can have to other LGUs if they follow the example of
Pasay City,” Esquivel said.
About 300 MMDA personnel started
demolishing the shanties at around 10 a.m.
MMDA officials offered help to
transfer the uprooted squatters to Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan and
Batangas, although it is not clear if the are relocation sites
waiting for them in those provinces.
MMDA Flood Control and Sewerage
Management Office chief Baltazar Melgar said professional squatters
are one of the biggest headaches of the agency. He said they cause
the costly problems for the National Capital Region and they are
protected clients of rich people who lead squatter syndicates.
Melgar said “professional
squatter syndicates” falsely claim that MMDA, Public Works and
other government personnel commit human-rights violations against
the squatters. They have lawyers who then use these invented
violations to fuel protests and spur violent action.
The demolition work caused heavy
traffic along Buendia Avenue.
The four barangays affected by
the operation were Palanan and San Isidro in Makati and two
barangays in Pasay.
--Jefferson Antiporda
and James Konstantin Galvez
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