48-year-old Vanessa Vermon had two guards to worry about: one she trusts, and the other she despises.

The first is her dog, Sanchai, who has become her companion and protector. The second are the enforcers from the Meralco line, who persist in pressuring residents to vacate their homes in Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City.

Vanessa Vermon’s home in Meralco line.

A struggle for space

Tatalon is one of the 39 barangays in the 4th District of Quezon City. In 2020, Brgy. Tatalon has a total population of 55,404. It is also considered the most impoverished community in the city district.

One notable community, situated along E. Rodriguez Avenue before intersecting with G. Araneta Avenue, is a farm-like community where residents thrive. There lived Vanessa and her guard dog Sanchai.

Piled up garbage along the Meralco line’s creekside in Tatalon.

At first glance, the area appears to be an unlikely place to live, given its condition filled with piled-up trash and its proximity to a creek that feeds directly into the San Juan River. It can also be observed that the water flow in the creek is particularly sluggish, almost like the slow trickle from a washing machine hose.

Despite these, the said area became home to settlers, including Vanessa, for over three decades. This community is called the Meralco line.

Historically, early civilizations have thrived near bodies of water. Putting into context the situation in Brgy. Tatalon, this farm-like community near the creekside is just a fraction of the entire Meralco line where ten families struggle to survive.

“Matagal na rin kaming pinapaalis talaga rito. Wala rin naman kaming magawa kapag ganito na ang ginagawa sa amin ng gwardya, minsan naman naaawa sila. Tumatahimik nalang din kami,” Vanessa shared.

[We’ve been told to leave here. But we really don’t have a choice when the guards do this to us, sometimes they even feel sorry for us. We’ll just stay quiet.]

Vanessa’s home used to be spacious. She even put up a small urban garden where they grow crops both for sustenance and livelihood. Now, the space is stripped of its walls and roof to provide cover.

Sanchai, Vanessa’s guard dog.

“Ayan si Sanchai, siya ang bantay sa bahay namin,” Vanessa added.

[That’s Sanchai, she’s the guard of our house.]

Meralco line residents further acknowledged that the land was owned by the Manila Electric Company or Meralco. In fact, several large transmission poles can be seen in the area. Meanwhile, despite the conditions, settlers continue to occupy the land.

Roofless and vulnerable

It was only in December last year, just before Christmas when the Meralco guards told residents to dismantle their house fixtures, including walls and roofs.

“Mainit na talaga ang mga gwardiya sa amin. Hindi naman pwedeng gagawa ka kahit papag, ang gusto nila kapag dumating sila, magwalis-walis ka at wala nang bubong. Hindi sila nagagalit noon. Ngayon, kapag inaayos mo, wawasakin nila. Wala naman kaming magawa,” Vanessa shared.

[The guards are really getting strict with us. We can’t even make a simple shelter, what they want is for us to sweep and have no roof when they come. They didn’t used to get angry about that. Now, if you’re trying to fix something, they’ll destroy it. We can’t do anything about it]

Vanessa relied solely on side hustles for income, be it through housekeeping or selling round rags (tahi-basahan), mostly to jeepney drivers.

“Ako talaga, dito na ang hanapbuhay ko na. Kung walang basahan, mangangatulong ako. Aabot iyon nang tatlo o apat na buwan. Kapag makaipon ako sa kikitain doon, ibibili ko ulit ng basahan para maibenta,” Vanessa shared.

[For me, this is my livelihood. If I don’t have any rags to sell, I do housekeeping. That can last for three or four months. When I save up enough, then I’ll buy rags again to sell.]

Through selling rags, Vanessa earns around P50 to P60 per bundle. Each bundle contains ten rags. She typically sells along G. Araneta Avenue, particularly near Puregold Qi.

Once she met her sales target, only then would she have enough money to buy food. This has become routine for Vanessa since living on the creekside of the Meralco line.

Vanessa also manages to save enough to send financial support to her children studying in Negros Oriental.

Most residents in the community earn a living through selling rags or working as housekeepers, a situation also shared by 28-year-old Marjorie Begil. Marjorie has two children, aged seven and nine.

Like Vanessa, Marjorie works as a housekeeper on Sundays in a condominium in Quezon City, while her husband primarily works on selling motor parts. However, according to Marjorie, her husband’s job is not always regular and often switches employers.

Unlike Vanessa, Marjorie’s family has a roof over their heads, but their home still lacks sufficient protection, especially during disasters.

Marjorie Bigil’s home in Meralco line.

“Nakikiusap kami. Tulad niyan may gwardya na dumaan kanina rito. Kilala na nila kami,” Marjorie shared.

[We plead with them. Like earlier, a security guard passed by here. They already know us here]

In 2024, during the heavy rains brought on by Typhoon Carina and subsequent storms, residents living along the creekside were forced to evacuate.

Marjorie carefully stores their belongings in plastic bags, ensuring they can be easily carried in case of an emergency.

“Maaga pa lang, inakyat na namin ang mga gamit namin. Pero nung madaling araw ay nagising kami. Mataas na ang baha na pumapasok na sa amin. Kaya dali-dali na kami umakyat,” Marjorie recalled, describing the floodwaters that nearly reached their waists alongside the strong current.

[We already moved our things up. But in the early hours, we were suddenly awakened. The flood had already risen and was starting to come inside. So, we quickly ran to the higher ground]

The particular area in the Meralco line is also where the bus was reportedly submerged in floodwaters along G. Araneta Avenue.

“Geographically kasi, catch basin talaga ito,” said Brgy. Tatalon captain Emmanuel Del Mundo.

[Geographically, this area is really a catch basin]

According to Del Mundo, the area has a long history of frequent flooding due to its low-lying geography and proximity to the San Juan River. He also added that their barangay is susceptible to liquefaction which further increases its vulnerability to flooding.

“Noong Carina, napakataas talaga ng tubig namin doon. Kinailangan pang humingi ng tulong sa city government. Abot mo na yung kawad ng kuryente,” Del Mundo added, detailing in particular how the flood almost reached the electrical wires even the nearly halfway up the posts of the Metro Manila Skyway.

[When Typhoon Carina hit, the water level was really high. We even had to ask for help from the city government. The water reached up to the power lines]

A duty to act

Following the aftermath of the monsoons and typhoons, massive heaps of garbage were accumulated along the streets of Brgy. Tatalon. Several drainage systems were also observed to have been clogged, including those near the creekside.

“Malinis ito dati kasi tinataniman nga namin, ngayon sinira na, binaklas na ng mga gwardya ng Meralco,” shared Vanessa.

[“It used to be clean because we used to plant here, but now it’s been destroyed, the guards from Meralco dismantled it]

Okra plant in Vanessa’s urban garden.

Vanessa shared that she used to plant and harvest a variety of vegetables, including gabi, tomatoes, okra, and eggplant, among others. However, these crops have now been destroyed since the onslaught of typhoons, which were further compounded by the actions of Meralco guards.

Meanwhile, Del Mundo emphasized that residents have long been aware of the possible eviction given that the land they occupy is private property.

“Buti nga mabait ang Meralco, pinayagan pa silang tumira roon,” Del Mundo said.

[Fortunately, the Meralco are kind; they even allowed them to live there]

“Since sa Meralco line siya, kapag magtataas sila ng bahay nila, dapat nila ipagpaalam doon sa headquarters ng Meralco sa Pasig. That’s the time na i-inform nila kami sa Barangay para bigyan namin ng clearance,” he added.

[Since it’s on the Meralco line, if they build their houses, they need to inform the Meralco headquarters in Pasig. That’s when they will notify us at the Barangay so we can issue a clearance]

However, for settlers like Vanessa, such a recommendation from the barangay seems unlikely to materialize.

Under Section 28 of Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 (UDHA), informal settler families (ISFs) cannot be forcibly removed or have their homes demolished without following the proper legal processes.

While the law allows for demolition in danger zones, notably the creekside area along the Meralco line, it mandates that adequate consultations must be conducted with the designated representatives of the families and the affected communities regarding their relocation.

In 2018, Quezon City also adopted the same ordinance aimed at providing a comprehensive socialized housing code to address housing needs in the city.

Meanwhile, it is further stipulated under RA 7160 or the Local Government Code that the barangay has the mandate to ensure the general welfare of its residents. It also has the power to mediate or facilitate conciliation, especially in the case between ISFs and Meralco, to provide a mechanism for amicable settlement of local disputes.

Should the barangay be unable to resolve the issue, it can refer the matter to the local government of Quezon City or national government agencies for further assistance.

What worries Veronica and other residents living by the creekside is the looming threat of eviction that could either turn violent or lead to forced displacement without proper alternatives or relocation.

In an interview with the barangay captain, Del Mundo confirmed that Meralco made an ultimatum: if another fire occurs, the settlers will be completely removed from the area.

In February 2023 and April 2024, fires have already gutted the shanties in the area affecting 244 and 136 families, respectively.

“Hindi namin kayang umalis, kasi saan kami pupunta? Paano ang mga gamit namin? Hindi naman kami pwede sa kalsada,” Veronica lamented.

[We can’t leave because where would we go? What about our belongings? We can’t just stay on the street]

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