Port workers, urban poor protest demolition plan

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From: KILUSANG MAYO UNO <kilusangmayouno@gmail.com>

Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 10:20:20 +0800

To: Kilusang Mayo Uno<kilusangmayouno@gmail.com>

Subject: Release: Port workers, urban poor protest demolition plan

Media Release
04 Sept 2012

Port workers, urban poor protest demolition plan

Hundreds of Manila North Harbor workers led by labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno and urban poor residents led by Anakpawis Partylist marched from Tondo to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) office this morning to protest the series of attempted demolitions of their houses and source of livelihood.

"Just this August, as parts of the country were devastated by torrential rains and floods, the PPA issued a closure order against our small stores and canteens," said Sherille Villacorte Javier, vice-president of the North Harbor Canteen and Restaurant Owner and Operators Inc.

"Clearly, the objective is not to remove us from so-called danger zones. The objective is to give the land to big business – presidential uncle Danding Cojuangco in this case," she said.

"The PPA and the Aquino government want both our houses and source of livelihood destroyed," she added.

In partnership with Manila North Harbor owner Regis Romero, business tycoon Danding Cojuangco is pushing for the demolition of urban poor communities in the area to set up a depot for oil company Petron.

"Since the North Harbor's privatization a few years back, the PPA has repeatedly been attempting to rip us of our houses and livelihood to benefit President Aquino's uncle," Javier said.

"The PPA's aggressiveness in pushing for the demolition of our homes stems from Pres. Aquino's championing of big business interests, especially those of his relatives," he added.

Workers and urban poor residents claimed that the demolition orders from the PPA have no legal basis because there is still a pending case on the matter at the Manila Regional Trial Court since 1995.

"The Aquino government does not have a housing program to speak of yet continues to demolish urban poor's communities in favor of big business. It is now going as far as ignoring pending cases on land disputes," Javier said.

"We vow to continue fighting for our homes, our livelihood and our families. We will fight the war being waged against the urban poor by the Aquino government and big capitalists," she added.

Reference: Sherille Javier, VP, North Harbor Canteen and Restaurant Owner and Operators, Inc. 0929-2133351