They were relocated to Cabuyao, Laguna to give way to the modernization of the railways. But without livelihood opportunities or hospitals, potable water or a continuous supply of electricity, they decided to go back. Now, the government is planning to relocate more families.

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat
Vol. VII, No. 30, September 2-8, 2007

Pregnant with her fourth child, Rosemarie Taroy, 25, works as a pedicab driver along the railways in Sampaloc, Manila. Rosemarie lives with her husband and three children under the busy flyover of Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard in Sta. Mesa, Manila. She drives the pedicab alternately with her husband.

However, the Taroy family’s home under the bridge and along the railways hardly looks like a house. It has no door, window, or walls. Two long, wooden benches are placed side-by-side, serving as their chair, table and bed, all rolled into one. The children bath along the railways while the space between the railways going north and going south serves as their kitchen. Seemingly oblivious to the danger, they just go on with their daily tasks even as trains pass inches from them.

There are around 30 families under this bridge living in the same condition as Rosemarie’s family. All of them have actually been relocated in a National Housing Authority (NHA) relocation center in Cabuyao, Laguna since their homes were demolished February this year.

The Taroy family however decided to go back along the railways in June since no livelihood was available in the relocation center. “Mahirap naman umasa sa utang” (It is difficult to rely on loans), Rosemarie said.

The relocation in Laguna also lacked everyday necessities such as clean, potable water and round-the-clock power supply. Although the relocation site is beside a closed-down dumpsite, Rosemarie said, they source their water from a deep well. Electricity is only available from six in the evening until only six the next day.

Rosemarie’s five-year-old son suffered from cholera while they lived in the Cabuyao relocation center. “Walang malapit na ospital,” Rosemarie complained, “kaya nagdesisyon kaming bumalik na sa Maynila. Kundi, mamamatay ang anak ko.” (There was no accessible hospital. That is why we decided to go back to Manila. Otherwise, my child might die.)

More relocatees

Government agencies have ordered the demolition of the houses along the railways from Metro Manila to the north up to its stations in La Union, and to the south up to its stations in the Bicol region. In 2004, the Chinese government provided a loan to the Arroyo administration amounting to at least P2 billion ($42,964,554 at an exchange rate of $1=P46.55) for the rehabilitation of the north and south railways. The said project would affect more than 104,000 families living along the railways.

More than 39,000 families in Metro Manila alone are bound to suffer the same fate as the Taroy family. NHA Communications Relation officer in Sampaloc, Annie Cruz, told Bulatlat there are less than 2,000 relocatees in this part of Manila covering barangays (villages) 579, 570, 576, 428, 422 and 426.

The residents here will be transferred to a relocation site in Marilao, Bulacan, Cruz said, but added that half of the affected families have to relocation site at all.

However, the NHA officer said relocation is not for free. While the relocatees are given a one-year grace period, they would have to pay P150 ($3.22) a month after a year. All-in-all, the relocatees would pay a total of P100, 000 ($2,148) for their 40 sq. meter house, payable in 30 years. But with no jobs and livelihood opportunities, this seemingly low amortization is still way beyond the means of poor families. (Bulatlat.com)

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