Village chiefs tasked to address ‘squatting’ problem

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday issued guidelines to address the supposed proliferation of informal settlers in the country, asking local government units to relocate informal settlers “with due regard to general welfare and well-being." The DILG said the guidelines, in line with the Aquino administration’s efforts to address the problem of informal settlers, were contained in a memorandum circular issued by Secretary Jesse Robredo to all governors, mayors, and punong barangays (village chiefs). In his memorandum, Robredo asked village chiefs and village councils to adopt measures for the effective prevention and control of the proliferation of informal settlers and mendicants in communities. “[P]unong barangays (are urged) to find ways to relocate existing informal settlers to a site with due regard to general welfare and well-being," the DILG said in a statement Monday. It likewise called on city and municipal mayors to monitor the actions or inactions of punong barangays in addressing proliferation of informal settlers. “It shall be the concern of the city or municipal mayor to prevent any elective or appointive local official from interfering with the lawful efforts of a punong barangay or of any appropriate government agency personnel to rid an area of informal settlers," the DILG said. Assistance Provincial governors and city and municipal mayors are meanwhile directed to provide technical, financial and other forms of assistance to punong barangays. According to Robredo, the rampant proliferation of informal settlers has been a “nagging perennial problem" that besets particularly urban local governments. He said despite government efforts, informal settlers thrive, resulting in “unsightly manifestations of urban decay and inter-generational neglect." The DILG chief reminded local officials that tolerating informal settlements along creeks, waterways riverbanks and shorelines is a violation of law, while permitting informal settlements along railroad tracks sidewalks, landfills, and public cemeteries or in parks and playgrounds is an “utter disregard of public safety and an affront to human decency." In the same memorandum, Robredo asked all DILG regional directors and field officials to monitor local government compliance with the directive, as well as to submit a monthly report on the actions taken by local officials in reducing informal settlers in their respective areas. Demolitions In attempts to address the problem of informal settlers, local government units have often resorted to demolitions which usually result in violence. In September last year, at least 14 people were injured and over 130 homes were dismantled in a large-scale demolition in Sitio San Roque in Quezon City North Triangle. The demolition was to make way for the P22-billion QC Central Business District (QCCBD) project between Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and the National Housing Authority (NHA), which would include the entire 30-hectare Sitio San Roque in Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa and displace some 10,000 families. Similarly, in January this year, at least 40 people, including a local official, were injured during the demolition in Corazon de Jesus village in San Juan City. The houses were demolished to pave the way for the new city hall, displacing some 1,000. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) earlier criticized the government for undertaking “drastic" solutions in solving the problem of informal settlers, saying demolition is not the answer as it only makes life “miserable" for affected residents. - JA/KBK, GMA News