Following the condemnable demolition in Barangay Corazon de Jesus in San Juan city yesterday, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino today called for an indefinite moratorium on all demolitions in the country as he hit the Aquino government for failing to implement a humane blueprint for housing services especially for the poor.

“The demolition in Barangay Corazon de Jesus is a condemnable act that should have no place in a country that claims to be democratic and on the path to progress,” Palatino said during a press conference held in Corazon de Jesus.

“The issue on housing is a salient concern of the people especially the poor. We demand the Aquino government to impose an indefinite moratorium on all demolitions in the country until it comes up with a rational and humane housing plan which addresses the root causes of informal settling and widespread poverty in our communities,” Palatino added.

Palatino said that in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, not less than seven (7) communities are facing demolitions affecting thousands of families. These are the Corazon de Jesus in San Juan, Quezon City Central Business District, Laperal compound in Makati, Dypac Compound in Tondo, Kadiwa in Navotas, Pangarap Village in Caloocan, and medium-rise tenements in Manila.

Palatino said the rampant demolitions portray President Aquino as “demolition President.”

In December 2011, Aquino added P10 billion to the P7 billion housing services budget as part of the government stimulus package.

However, Palatino said that the budget is rendered insubstantial by the lack of proper housing framework of the Aquino administration. He said that the relocation sites being offered to the informal settlers are far from work, school and other infrastructures like hospitals.

“It is the failure of the government to provide secure jobs and decent wages in both rural and urban areas, aggrandized by the lack of genuine agrarian and urban land reform and national industrialization, that produces informal settlers. The government cannot solve this fundamental problem by demolishing homes and inflicting violence on the landless poor.”

“Kailangan mabatid ng gobyerno na kahit saan mang lugar na may banta ng demolisyon, lalaban at lalaban ang mahihirap. Ipagtatanggol ng mahihirap ang kanilang karapatan lalo na kung buhay, bahay at kabuhayan ng mga tao ang nasa peligro,” Palatino said .

Palatino likewise demanded the immediate release of all residents, including minors, and their supporters arrested by the police during and after the demolition in Corazon de Jesus. ###