Just before Christmas Day, several unknown agents went to communities in Aroma, particularly targeting those affected by the September 14 fire incident who are also members of Samahan ng Maralita sa Temporary Housing (SMTH).
SMTH president Maria Fe Hulipaz said the individuals refused to show their IDs and only conducted their supposed validation activities.
More than 2,600 families were affected by the fire that gutted 12 buildings in Aroma, Tondo. The fire toppled buildings 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 33, and 34. Of this number, about 109 families were affected in Brgy. 11, where Hulipaz resides.
“Yung natira lang dito sa Bldg 11 ay itong daycare at yung bahay ko ngayon na matubig na rin at di na pwedeng tirhan dahil nakakatakot na yung semento. Kaya inayos na namin yung tindahan namin, doon na kami tumitira,” Hulipaz added.
[What’s left here in Building 11 is the daycare and my house, which is now flooded and no longer habitable because the cement has become scary. That’s why we fixed up our store, and that’s where we’re living now]
Concerns over unexplained tagging during validation
Hulipaz said that she worried about this tagging as they were not given any explanation aside from the fact that the agents were only doing validation.
“Ang tanging paliwanag nila ay tinitingnan lang nila kung sino ang nakatira dito mula pa noong 2017 at kung sino ang mga bagong idinagdag,” Hulipaz added.
[Their only explanation was that they’re only checking who has been living here since 2017 and who has been added]
Even the newly established daycare center of Eskulayan or the Eskwelahan para sa Kamalayan at Kalayaan (School for Consciousness and Freedom), a rights-based alternative mobile schooling program by the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, was also tagged.
The first Eskulayan daycare center on the second floor of Building 11 was among those destroyed in the fire, leaving only the staircase intact.
Hulipaz added that several affected residents living in the building were forced to crowd into the lower levels.
Aroma residents face pressure to accept P60,000 offer
Since the fire incident, so-called validation activities have been conducted by unknown individuals who convinced residents to accept P60,000 to move out. However, according to Hulipaz, this offer was only given to those who were included in the 2017 census.
“Nagiging talamak ngayon dahil inoofferan nila ng P60,000 yung 2017 na na-census. Walang relokasyon iyon kundi balik-probinsya o mangupahan sila. Yung anak ko in-offeran din iyan. Sa Baras, Rizal ang relokasyon daw,” Hulipaz added.
[It’s becoming rampant now because they’re offering P60,000 to those who were included in the 2017 census. There’s no relocation, only a return to the province or renting somewhere. Even my child was offered that. They said the relocation would be in Baras, Rizal]
Hulipaz surmised that these were agents from R-II Builders, a construction company owned by real estate mogul Reghis Romero II, who were claiming the ownership of the land.
Last April 2024, SMTH participated in a dialogue between the National Housing Authority (NHA) and R-II Builders, where they were informed about the court order noting that their community in Aroma became a collateral payment of the NHA to R-II Builders.
In 2017, the Supreme Court favored R-II Builders to recover P4.5 billion worth of assets from the joint venture agreement it entered into with (NHA) and the Home Guaranty Corp. (HGC) in connection with the Smokey Mountain Development and Reclamation Project (SMDRP) in Manila.
“Ipinaliwanag nila (R-II) yung nakalagay sa court order at nalaman namin na malaki ang pagkakautang ng NHA sa Smokey Mountain. Dahil wala raw pambayad si NHA, ginawa nilang kolateral itong sa Temporary Housing. Kapag binayaran naman ng NHA, ibabalik nila ang pamamahala. Pero ipinagmamayabang pa ng R-II, baka raw umalwan pa ang kalagayan namin. Pero bakit ngayon ganito ang ginagawa nila?” Hulipaz said.
[They (R-II) explained what was stated in the court order, and we learned that the NHA owes a huge amount to Smokey Mountain. Since the NHA had no funds to pay, they used the Temporary Housing as collateral. Once the NHA pays, they will return to the management. But R-II is boasting that our situation might even improve. But why are they doing this now?]
Hulipaz pointed out that R-II Builders have no plans, especially for residents living in Aroma.
“Ang katotohanan diyan, wala talaga silang plano. Sabi pa, habang naglalaban sila sa korte, hindi nila gagalawin ang mga naninirahan dito. Pero ang taktika, habang naglalaban, ginagapang naman nila at nag-aalok na ng bayad,” Hulipaz added.
[The truth is, they really have no plans. They even said that while they’re fighting in court, they won’t touch the people living here. But their tactic is, while they’re fighting, they’re already quietly offering payments.]
Such an offer has been a common practice of R-II Builders, particularly in communities where they claim ownership.
In 2023, the community in Maysapang in Brgy. Ususan, Taguig, which also faced demolition and eviction threats from R-II Builders, was also offered an “early bird bonus” amounting to P50,000.
SMTH seeks dialogue with the Manila Mayor to address concerns
Hulipaz said SMTH wanted to have a dialogue with Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna to forward their demand and know the position of the Manila LGU regarding the residents living in the Temporary Housing.
“Gusto talaga naming makaharap si Mayora. Nangangamba na rin kasi kami sa mga ginagawang taktika ng R-II at iba’t iba ang mga iyan. Yung pag-aalok sa bawat indibidwal, parang para hindi na lumaban ang mga tao, para hindi na tumindig. Iyon ang suri ko. Lalo na yung mga iba natatakot na rin lumaban,” said Hulipaz.
[We really want to meet with the Mayor. We’re also worried about the tactics being used by R-II and others. The offering to each individual seems like a way to prevent people from fighting, to stop them from standing up. That’s my analysis. Especially since others are now afraid to fight]
One of the agendas that Hulipaz wants to present in their upcoming dialogue with Mayor Lacuna is the People’s Plan. The People’s Plan has been in place since 2017 and was already shared with former Mayor Isko Moreno.
“July 2, 2018 iyon na ang banggit sa amin ay ipush namin sa NHA na ibenta ito sa city of Manila dahil willing naman silang bilhin ito. Hanggang sa dumating ang pandemic hindi na namin nakausap si Yorme,” Hulipaz said.
“On July 2, 2018, we were told to push for the NHA to sell it to the City of Manila since they were willing to buy it. However, the pandemic came, and we were no longer able to speak with Mayor Isko Moreno]
Last July 2023, SMTH already held a dialogue with the Manila Urban Settlements Office (MUSO) along with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), and NHA to discuss issues among marginalized sectors especially the poor residents of Brgy. 105 regarding housing, job security, and health concerns.
During the dialogue, SMTH was firm in its position regarding the socialized housing projects by the NHA, particularly the flagship housing program called the 4PH or Pilipino Housing Program.
In Manila, seven housing projects initiated by former mayor Isko Moreno are already underway with a P10 billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). These include the Tondominium, San Sebastian, San Lazaro Residences, Pedro Gil Residences, and Basecommunity.
On March 25, the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) and the Manila LGU met to discuss strategies for expediting the construction of 4PH housing projects in the city.
Currently, three 4PH projects are under development in Manila: the San Miguel de Manila Residences in the old San Miguel District near Malacañang, the Marina Port Town Project in North Harbor, Tondo, and Sta. Mesa Altura in the Sta. Mesa District.
However, SMTH, along with several urban poor residents in Tondo, have expressed that they cannot afford the monthly rent and amenities in these new buildings. Some residents, like those in Tondominium, also criticized Manila City Ordinance 8730, arguing they were not prioritized as low-income households in securing a place in these housing projects.
“Yung 4PH, hindi namin kakayanin iyon. Napakalaki ng bayad diyan. Sa P1000 hirap na hirap na kami, aabot pa ng P3000-P5000, para lang iyan sa mga may kakayahan e. Para sa amin hindi namin kaya iyan,” Hulipaz said.
[We can’t afford the 4PH. The payment is just too high. With P1000, we’re already struggling, and it could reach P3000-P5000. That’s only for those who can afford it. For us, we can’t manage that]
“Kaya kami sa SMTH, sabi ko wag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Lagi naming sinasabi na mahalaga ang pagiging united namin. Yung obligasyon hindi lang sa bawat isa, kundi sa kabuoan at importante itong ihayag, yung commitment namin na kalakip ang sakripisyo para tumindig talaga. Ito nalang ang sandata namin, ang pagtindig namin,” Hulipaz added.
[We at SMTH, I tell them not to lose hope. We always say that our unity is important. Our obligation is not just to each other but to the whole community, and it’s important to express our commitment, which is accompanied by sacrifice, to truly stand up. This is our only weapon, our standing up]
SMTH to launch Pinggang Pinoy and focus on key agendas for 2025
For 2025, SMTH shared that they will focus on four agendas, including housing, livelihood, education, and health.
Starting in January, the group will pilot the establishment of Pinggang Pinoy, which was developed by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
“Sisimulan namin ang Pinggang Pinoy dahil nakita namin dito sa aming community na may mga pumapasok na mga bata na hindi nag-aalmusal. Sa pamamagitan nito, mura na silang makakakain ng masustansyang pagkain,” Hulipaz shared.
[We will start the Pinggang Pinoy program because we’ve noticed that some children in our community come to school without having breakfast. Through this, they will be able to have affordable and nutritious meals]
The FNRI developed Pinggang Pinoy in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Department of Health (DOH), and the National Nutrition Council (NNC).
The program’s canteen will be located near the Eskulayan daycare center, with several members of SMTH contributing unused materials to help build the facility.
For education, SMTH will continue operating Eskulayan, which serves children aged 6 to 14, as well as the Supervised Neighborhood Play program, which caters to children aged 3 to 4.
