3 options for 35 families evicted by UP

Quezon City Councilor Ariel Inton offered three options for the resettlement of 35 families evicted by the University of the Philippines from a nearby community.

"One, UP could relocate them three meters away from what it said was a danger zone, which was the banks of a creek," he said. "Two, UP could also transfer them to a suitable site inside the Barangay San Vicente proper and three the last option, move them out to someplace else."

UP Diliman Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Gil Gotiangco announced that the university has put up a new relocation package for the affected families, whose houses once stood on the banks of a creek that cut through a portion of Barangay San Vicente.

He declined to reveal details, saying an inter-agency committee tasked to look after the welfare of the evicted families has yet to fully deliberate on the proposal.

Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor chairman Percival Chavez, a member of the committee, vowed to resolve the issue before the week ends, saying UP cannot keep the fate of the families hanging.

Police dismantled their houses last week but the families have refused to leave, saying an option for resettlement to the ERAP City in Montalban offered by the inter-agency committee is totally unacceptable. Since the demolition, the families have been living in a tent city at the site, which is only a few meters away from the UP Visitor Information Center along University Avenue.

"UP will not allow reconstruction of the illegal structures at the demolition site," said Gotiangco. "The inter-agency committee, however, will be discussing options that will make the previously offered package more responsive to their needs." Gotiangco said UP has already resorted to all possible measures to come up with a package acceptable to the illegal settlers since September 2001 even if UP is not under any legal obligation to offer any relocation packages.

UP officials are meeting Friday with representatives of the NHA, the HUDCC, the PCUP, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), among other government agencies to discuss the options.

The agency was supposed to meet Monday but the meeting was canceled.

UP president, Dr. Francisco Nemenzo earlier tapped activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes of the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in UP, to act as an intermediary in the negotiations between the affected occupants and UP Diliman officials. Nemenzo also agreed to facilitate the meeting between Reyes and UP Diliman Chancellor Emerlinda Roman. — Romel Bagares