Deprived of their livelihood

Before, I was a great supporter of the policies of the MMDA for the success of its program. I have witnessed how Bayani Fernando turned his city — Marikina to “Little Singapore.” Outside Marikina, he is now trying to convert the whole country into his own city. But given this great aspiration, there should be a trade-off.

The poor suffers a lot from this policy of clearing operation by the MMDA in several parts of Metro Manila. Before, I didn’t care about what they are doing because I know that it is for the better. It is really good but after the operation, what’s next? Why do they have to take away the means of living of those who are trying to live in a decent way. Where do the MMDA bring the confiscated items?

The way I see it, this may just trigger the poor to opt for the worse part of living. They are less privileged and not educated. The number of the poor is increasing. Problems are just piled up now.

Our topmost problem is poverty. It is very obvious at the moment. All the government is trying to do is not enough to save this country from this misery due to this dynamic problem. We have long lived in this condition and one time big time solution to get out from this is really impossible. The best way to do this is to have a concrete plan of what to do to those people who were born deprived and destined by the MMDA to be deprived more. — Aizza Gonzales, UP Diliman