Days leading to the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, an urban poor group slammed the cornerstone of President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic program – the Build Build Build program — as a government initiative that will leave Filipinos both homeless and poorer.
In a protest action today in Mendiola, Kadamay said the infrastructure projects will only lead to demolition of houses, without decent relocation offers to affected residents.
Kadamay chairperson Gloria Arellano said more than half a million Filipinos stand to lose their homes and livelihoods to give way to these infrastructure projects.
“Who will benefit? The Chinese businesses and other capitalists and cronies of demolition king Duterte,” added Arellano.
Apart from the demolition, the urban poor leader pointed out that the poor will bear the brunt of Build Build Build project as this will be funded through the infamous tax reform program.
The irony, Arellano said, is that the poor will in essence fund the demolition of their homes.
Right to housing is one of rights supposedly guaranteed by the state, as stipulated in the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. 
Text By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Photo courtesy of MICHAEL BELTRAN
