In 2002, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proclaimed for the residents the 56 hectares of land that make up Baseco. This means the area was declared “open for distribution to the actual occupants”. The government now wants to use the 56 has. for commercial purposes and intends the families to move to a ten-hectare site to be still reclaimed near Baseco in Manila Bay.
Urban Poor Associates & LOCOA
Yesterday some 200 demolition crews of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) backed by armed police escorts and armed men in civilian clothes demolished the shanties of some 54 poor families living under a bridge on the South Superhighway in Paco, City of Manila.
Polls reported recently that more than 80% of Filipinos hope that 2006 will be better for them than the past year. This seems a good example of Christian hope of which it is said, “Christian hope begins when there is no hope.” Such hope appears to be deep in the bones of Filipinos, and luckily so for government and all in authority. In Happyland, Tondo on January 2 we met thousands of such people, still patient, forbearing and hopeful for better days, though a fire destroyed the homes of 3,000 families there two days before the New Year began.