Urban poor group hits Japan bank projects

An urban poor welfare advocacy group chided the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for its involvement in government infrastructure projects which, it said, only wreak havoc on the lives of the poor.

UPA is opposing the government’s Japan-funded multi-billion Mega Dike project in Taguig, the Metro Manila Flood Control Project and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Project because according to it, these lack social and environmental protection measures for those who would be displaced by the projects.

Data gathered by NGOs Urban Poor Associations, Community Organizers Multiversity and Community Organizing of the Philippines Enterprise said the three projects threaten to displace as many as 136,000 urban poor families.

The construction of the 9.8-kilometer road dike stretching from Taytay, Rizal to Bicutan surrounding the Laguna Lake, is expected to affect around 100,000 families, according to the Urban Poor Associates. Roughly 10,000 families along the 27-kilometer Pasig River face demolition. Another 26,000 families residing in the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area would also be affected by the Flood Control Project.

The projects are also partly-funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In June last year, Japan announced the release of their 24th ODA Loan Package worth P19.5-billion to finance nine projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Ironically, UPA activists noted, the JBIC itself has laid down environmental guidelines for projects it funds. The guidelines read: "If environmental considerations for the project are not appropriately addressed and the project carries significant risk of negative environmental impact, JBIC may decide not to provide loans or equity contributions."

The advocacy group has been helping the Taguig Coalition Against Dike (TACAD), Ugnayang Lakas ng mga Nakatira sa Tabing Ilog Pasig (ULAP) and Samahang Nagkakaisa ng mga Maralitang Taga-Navotas (SANAGMANA) in their campaign against the project. – Romel Bagares