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From
Payatas to Sona: Jomer Still Chases His ‘Paper Boat’ Dreams
Jomer Pabalan was one of three Payatas boys whose wishes President Macapagal-Arroyo
had promised to grant in her first SONA in July 2001. Two years later, however,
Jomer and his family continue to hope for justice, secure livelihood and
housing.
By John Paul
E. Andaquig
IBON Features
Posted by Bulatlat.com
Garbage
pickers at the Payatas dump
If
12-year-old Jomer Pabalan would have his way, he would still live in Kasiglahan
Village, a housing project located in Rodriguez, Rizal where almost 500 former
Payatas families were relocated following the July 10, 2000 landslide in one of
Metro Manila’s largest dumps.
But his parents continue to worry where to get the payment for their Kasiglahan
housing unit. The Pabalan family’s housing unit costs P165,000 to be paid in
25 years. Although Jomer’s father was able to put up a gas stove repair shop
in front of their house with the capital coming from the P10,000 livelihood
assistance from the government, the family’s income was simply not enough.
Two years ago, Jomer, together with fellow Payatas boys Jayson Banogon and Erwin
Dolera, got his first trip inside the halls of Congress and saw President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo face-to-face for the first time.
Witnessed by the country’s legislators and the TV audience, Arroyo then
introduced them as three simple kids with simple dreams. These dreams were
written on paper boats that the three boys set sail on Pasig River toward Malacañang.
Thus the inspired theme of Arroyo’s 2001 State of the Nation Address (SONA),
“Bangkang Papel” (paper boat).
Jomer still remembers those wishes because they have not come true. He still
wishes for justice for the 217 victims claimed by the Payatas dumpslide. He also
continues to pray that his family would not have to pay for their housing unit
in Kasiglahan.
For this the government can only do so much, says Social Welfare Secretary Dinky
Soliman in a news report. Nevertheless, their dream boats have not sunk; she
sayd, they have "sailed smoothly and far."
The same news report stated that the three Payatas boys are now diligent
students, with Jayson studying at the UP Integrated School after graduating
salutatorian in grade school, and Erwin becoming "Boy Scout of the
Year" at St. Vincent Rolling Hillls School, a private school in Payatas.
No
pigs in the backyard
Jomer,
on the other hand, was also reportedly studying at St.Vincent, "being among
the more responsible and obedient students". Indeed, the boy values his
education very much. He says in an interview that he is very fond of studying,
always asking questions and participating in class discussions. Unlike many
kids, his favorite subjects include math and science.
But Jomer is not enrolled at St. Vincent. Rather, he is a sixth grader at
Kasiglahan Elementary School where two of his younger siblings are also
studying. There, Jomer only pays for school projects and other miscellaneous
fees, plus his daily allowance and fare since he usually rides the pedicab every
morning.
His mother, Merly, explains that the DSWD scholarship given to him cannot cover
the tuition and other fees at St.Vincent. She adds that since the 2001 SONA,
Jomer receives yearly P16,000 in educational assistance until he finishes high
school. She says that the amount is just enough to cover Jomer’s expenses in
school projects as well as other school needs such as uniforms, bag, and
notebooks.
“Kung
sa private siya mag-aaral, kapos talaga kasi nga gusto rin niyang matulungan
yung mga kapatid niya. Kaya hinahati rin niya ang baon niya at ibinibigay sa
kanila” (The amount is not enough if he studies in a private school as he
also wants to help his younger siblings. He even shares his daily allowance with
his siblings), Merly says.
She also denies that her family is raising pigs as livelihood, contrary to news
reports. Until now, her husband’s gas stove repair shop is the family’s main
source of income.
Just
an ordinary kid
Jomer
goes to class from 6 to 10 a.m. In the afternoon after doing his homework, he
usually helps around the house, fetching water from a nearby well or cooking
rice. He does not usually watch TV, but admits liking anime cartoons and even a
"chinovela" show.
Like other kids, he was once hooked at the popular game Beyblade, but his sport
would always be basketball, which he usually plays every weekend. “Minsan
kapag wala kaming ginagawa, pumupunta kami sa may puno ng aratilis, kasi
mahangin doon” (Sometimes when there is nothing to do, my friends and I
usually hang around under the aratilis tree because its cool there), he says.
If given a chance to meet President Macapagal-Arroyo again, Jomer says he would
wish the same things, that justice be finally given to their neighbors who died
in the dumpslide and that his family finally have a secure livelihood and
housing.
Though he is thankful for his scholarship and the livelihood assistance, Jomer
knows his parents are still struggling to make ends meet. He dreams of being a
doctor someday but not the type who will leave the country and work abroad.
Asked
whom he would like to serve as a doctor, he simply replies, “Yung mga
nangangailangan at mga walang pera” (Those in dire need and with no money
to spare).
The need for a genuine housing program
Like
other former Payatas residents, Merly says that her family could not pay for the
housing unit, despite a payment rate which starts at P500 a month for the first
year until it reaches P1,500 by the fourth year for a 25-year period. Since they
do not have a stable livelihood, meeting the family’s basic needs is already a
difficult task. “Isipin mo naman, maghahanap ka ng trabaho dito sa Maynila,
pamasahe mo pa lang wala nang matitira. Eh sa ngayon, kung may bayad pang
monthly, ang laki ng halaga. Paano pa yung kuryente at tubig?” (When we
look for jobs here in Metro Manila, we spend so much for transport fare. But
right now we also have to pay monthly fees for our house. It is just too much.
How can we even pay now for our electricity and water?), Merly says.
Every year, government allocates around 23% of housing funds for its socialized
housing program that covers units worth P180,000 below each and supposedly
targets low-income families. Various programs are also listed by the government
for urban poor families, including programs for resettlement, and sites and
services development.
But the government is faced with the problem of how and where to find funds. The
usual solution for the government has always been to rely on the private sector,
which is naturally interested in gaining profits.
Thus, urban poor families who are relocated to National Housing Authority (NHA)-marked
resettlement sites usually find themselves struggling even more to survive.
Monthly housing fees, even for socialized housing, are still way up from what
low-income families can afford.
Most
resettlement sites lack basic services and livelihood sources. For instance in
Towerville, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, around 20% of the 982 families
relocated by the NHA lives in makeshift tents. The families have to pay for
these tents that cost P20,000 each. One child has reportedly died in the area
out of intense heat and lack of basic services.
Quest for justice continues
Like
Jomer and his family, Benny Sandoy has also been living in Kasiglahan for almost
three years since the Payatas tragedy. But he still remembers the pain of losing
all his loved ones to the landslide, including his three kids, Abegail, Benny
Jr. and 6-month-old Alvin, his wife Alma and his mother Benita.
Thus, he continues to seek justice for his family as well as those of other
Payatas victims. Together with Merly, he is active as a board member of the July
10 Payatas Victims Association, one of three organized groups of former Payatas
residents in Kasiglahan.
Benny said in an interview that they have been calling President Macapagal-Arroyo’s
attention to the status of their class suit against Quezon City officials, as
well as their living conditions in Kasiglahan, including those in other
resettlement sites. He said that many Payatas residents who were relocated in
Kasiglahan usually returned to the dump since they could not find any adequate
livelihood within or near the relocation site.
Benny
himself has found work back in Payatas, earning P6,000 a month as security guard
in the dump. But even his job could not compensate for all his daily needs.
Their group has also been asking Housing Secretary Michael Defensor for a
five-year housing moratorium after which they can avail their units for free,
Benny adds.
Merly hopes that the Arroyo administration fulfills its promises to the hundreds
of Payatas victims. "Pabahay at hustisya pa rin ang hinihingi namin"
(Our problem is still housing and our quest for justice), she says. Posted by
Bulatlat.com
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