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The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
has criticized the human-rights performance of the Philippine
government and recommended significant policy changes.
The UN committee cited Manila’s failure to
comply with its earlier recommendations to prevent illegal forced
evictions in the country during the past 12 years.
In the 10-page Concluding Observations issued on
November 24, it reported that it “regrets that most of its
previous recommendations relating to the prevention of illegal
forced evictions have not been acted upon by the State party, and
remains deeply concerned about the large-scale forced evictions of
urban families carried out for the purpose of urban renewal and
beautification, which has reportedly affected over 1.2 million
people in the period between 1995 and 2008.”
The committee added that it is “also concerned
about the lack of effective consultation with, and legal redress
for, persons affected by forced evictions, and the inadequate
measures to provide sufficient compensation or adequate relocation
sites to families who have been forcibly removed from their
properties.”
It also expressed concern on “the inadequate
measures to provide sufficient compensation or adequate relocation
sites” for the evicted families.
Ted Añana, the deputy coordinator of Urban Poor
Associates, said they are pleased that the UN committee’s findings
on illegal forced evictions validate their own findings.
“People cannot be thrown out in the streets
like rubbish as has happened so often here,” Añana added.
On social services
The UN committee noted that an estimated 16.5
million, or 30 percent, of the urban population continue to live in
informal settlements and slums and under constant threat of
eviction.
It said that the allocated budget for housing
programs is not sufficient “to increase the supply of social
housing units for members of the most disadvantaged and marginalized
groups.”
“The national spending on social services such
as housing, health and education remains low and has in fact
decreased over the years,” the committee added.
It recommended “that the State party increase
its national spending” on such social services.
The UN committee urged the Philippine government
to ensure effective implementation of the Urban Development and
Housing Act of 1992 (Republic Act 7279) and other laws and
regulations prohibiting illegal forced evictions and demolitions.
It advised the Arroyo administration to
reinforce the mandate of the Presidential Commission for the Urban
Poor and also ensure that persons forcibly evicted from their
properties be provided with adequate compensation and/or offered
relocation, in accordance with the housing act and the guidelines
adopted by the committee in its comment on forced evictions in 1997.
The UN committee asked Manila to guarantee that
relocation sites are provided with basic services, including
drinking water, electricity, washing and sanitation facilities, and
adequate facilities, including schools, health-care centers and
transportation, at the time the resettlement takes place.
It requested the Philippine government to submit
its combined fifth and sixth periodic reports by June 30, 2013.
Committee’s job
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights is composed of independent experts who monitor
implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights by states.
The committee was established under United
Nations Economic and Social Council Resolution 1985/17 of May 1985
to carry out the monitoring functions.
It requires all State parties, including the
Philippines, to submit to it regular reports on the protection of
human rights.
-- Ira Karen Apanay
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