Relocation without Housing
Bulacan poor end up tent dwellers as NorthRail project begins February

No less than Vice President Noli De Castro said the government is looking after the well-being of the families who used to live along the railways of Bulacan and are now homeless. However, more than 100 families in a relocation site still live under dismal conditions. Living on nothing but tents, these families may have to suffer longer as local officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) admitted that, at least for now, there is no budget for the affected families’ housing.

BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat

NOT HOUSES: More than a hundred families still live in dismal conditions at the NorthRail relocation project in Balagtas, Bulacan       PHOTO BY DABET CASTAÑEDA

BALAGTAS, Bulacan – It was high noon and two-month old Baby Justine slept peacefully, unmindful of his family’s gloomy condition at the edge of Northville IV, a relocation site for families who used to live along the railways of this municipality. His mother Crizelle Binaro, who gave birth Dec. 10 last year said that Baby Justine’s name was originally “Just Tent.” The village komadrona (midwife) suggested it because the baby was born inside a green-and-white striped tarpaulin tent which is now his family’s new home.

Baby Justine’s family is among the thousands of families relocated in Northville IV after their homes along the railways of this town were demolished from May to November last year. The railways were cleared to make way for the construction of the $503-million, China-funded North Luzon Railways Corporation (NorthRail) project that stretches 80 kms. from Caloocan City to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga.

“Naglalakihan na lang sa tent ang mga bata,” (The children are growing up, living in tents) said Crizelle. She said that it was only during the baby’s baptism when a nun suggested that the baby’s name be changed to what it is now. 

Her new baby’s name, however, is the least of her worries.

Sitting on a papag (bed made of bamboo slats), she said her family’s situation is her biggest concern. “Nagkakasakit na ang mga bata,” (The children get sick) she said. In fact, Baby Justine had a cold when Bulatlat visited the site Jan. 26.

No budget Baby Justine’s family is not alone in this plight. Their neighbor, 57-year old Aling Marina Leparto, said more than 100 of them live under miserable conditions. She said she does not get enough sleep because of the heavy rains that hit parts of Central Luzon and Manila. “Baka liparin yung tent,” (The tent may get blown away) she said. Aling Marina said they have aired their concerns to local officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) who frequented their place but were usually told to “just wait.” It has been more than two months though since their homes were demolished Nov. 16 last year. They have been living in tents since and it appears they will be doing so for a long time. Daisy Mariñas, community relations chief of NHA-Bulacan Task Force Northrail, admitted in a separate interview with Bulatlat that there is no budget yet for Aling Marina and the rest of the families living in tents in Northville IV.

Crizelle Binaro with son Justine, originally named Just Tent PHOTO BY DABET CASTAÑEDA

Mariñas said these families are categorized as “uncensused” ― families who lived along the railways but were not at their homes when NHA conducted its survey in July 2004.

She said there are 110 “uncensused” families in Balagtas alone. Of this, 65 families still live along the railways because there are no more lots allotted for them. Meanwhile, 16 “uncensused” families are at the relocation site. Their lots are located at the boundary of the relocation site which lies in the middle of a rice field.

The NHA data in Balagtas do not account for the status of 29 qualified “uncensused” families.

Not enough available lots

Another NHA official, Engr. Rico Abueva, Team Head of the Bocaue-Balagtas Task Force-Northrail-Bulacan, said the NHA was only able to acquire 5.9 hectares for the Balagtas project. Abueva said this is 2.1 hectares short of the required 8.0 hectares for the site.

As of January 2006, Abueva said that his team has relocated 1,159 families or 18 families more than the NHA‘s target of 1,141 families. He said that the 18 families found shelter either on tents or in houses of relatives who also live in Northville IV. 

For the relocation project, Abueva said that the NHA allotted P175,000 ($3,340.65, based on an exchange rate of P52.385 per US dollar) per family to cover payment for a 40-sq. m. lot, P40,000 ($763.58) worth of housing materials, P10,000 ($190.89) labor cost, and P1,000 ($19.09) for food.

Based on this cost, Abueva said that the NHA needs around P11 million ($209,983.77) more to relocate the 65 qualified uncensused families of Balagtas alone.

NHA records show there are 12,878 available lots in six relocation sites in Bulacan, namely: Meycauayan (3,341); Marilao (1,911); Malolos (2,696); Guiguinto (1,703); Bocaue (2,086); and Balagtas (1,141).

Abueva said there are still a number of uncensused families in other relocation sites in Bulacan. According to newspaper reports, NHA for Central Luzon Assistant Manager Romuel Alimbuyo said there are still 2,573 families in the province who are not yet relocated by the NHA.

If this number were multiplied by the cost needed to relocate a family, the government would need around P450 million ($8,590,245.30) to provide shelter to the 2,573 families affected by the Northrail project.

No livelihood

Since the relocation site for railway dwellers in Caloocan City is located in far-flung, hilly areas of Bulacan, most of the affected families lost their jobs and means of livelihood.

Given this experience, Mariñas said that the NHA decided to implement “in-town” relocation for the affected families in Bulacan. “We do not want to make things difficult for them. As much as possible, we want their lives to become better by giving them a chance to own their own homes that are near their work places,” Mariñas said.

However, most families interviewed by Bulatlat still suffer from the same fate as their counterparts in Caloocan City.

Virginia Pestaño, 41, was a cook at a canteen near the railways in Balagtas. She lost her job since her family was relocated in Northville IV. Aside from paying higher transportation fare going to her place of work, Pestaño said that she is forced to stay inside her family’s tent so as not to lose it. “Sabi kasi sa amin ng taga-NHA, pag wala daw tao ang tent idedeklara nilang vacant,” (According to the NHA staff, they will declare a tent vacant if there is no one inside.) she said.

Her three children go to school at most thrice a week to save on transportation fare. Meanwhile, her husband is forced to live at his place of work also to save on transportation allowance. “Natutulog lang siya sa ibabaw ng mga sako-sakong palay,” (He only sleeps on top of sacks of unhusked rice), Pestaño said of her husband who works in a palay (unhusked rice) milling factory.

To answer the affected families’ need for jobs and means of livelihood, Mariñas said the NHA has a livelihood program for them. However, due to lack of funds, they have provided capital for only 150 families.

Mariñas added that members of the affected families are given hiring priority once the Northrail starts construction in February 2006. Construction is estimated to last for about three years.

She admitted that she was not sure of the jobs available after the Northrail construction. “Sino ba ang may security of tenure sa atin?” (Who has security of tenure among us) was her curt reply when asked what lies ahead for the affected families. Bulatlat

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