NEWS
UP Arboretum residents fear displacement as PGH Diliman project continues JOSE MARTIN SINGH Jun Basconcillo, 71, laments grave difficulties brought by threats of displacement, the worst experience in his 50-year stay in the UP Arboretum. Despite his old age, he continues to work as a block leader to help fellow residents defend their community, especially now that a huge infrastructure project is set to displace them. Residents are forced to relocate soon as the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Diliman’s construction at Block 2 of the Arboretum has started. In the past two months, residents have been transferring within the vicinity to make way for the PGH Diliman’s fencing and hospital entrance. The on-site relocation happened after seven Block 2 residents voluntarily demolished their homes and signed a contract with the Office of Community Relations (OCR) guaranteeing their stay in the new location. Other residents living along the Central Avenue side of the forest who refuse to relocate within the Arboretum must eventually do so. “Talagang harassment na itong nangyayari,” Basconcillo said, fearing the alleged displacement that might happen soon. OCR director Karen Jago-on, however, denied any demolition plans in the Arboretum. “We were just informing them na magkakaroon ng social service facility para sa lahat … It is expected [they will react that way] kasi di mo masasabing magugustuhan ng lahat [yung proyekto]. Magkakaroon talaga ng fear,” Jago-on said. Fenced-in Various inconveniences, in relation to the PGH Diliman’s
construction, have stumped the residents this year. One would be a cyclone fence that cuts across the forest, separating the Arboretum into two portions. Vice President for Public Affairs Elena Pernia confirmed that the fencing project is intended for the PGH Diliman project. “This is to put a demarcation line … identifying the area [where the] UP Diliman PGH will be put,” Pernia said, adding that the area is scantily populated. The project effectively cut down a number of trees, breaching the 2003 UP Diliman Land Use Plan which states that the Arboretum, a priority protection zone, “shall not be subject to any invasive development or other activities that will undermine its environmental integrity.” Residents are trapped within the fence’s radius and have to crawl under or even climb over the barrier to observe daily functions, with only four gates found on different ends of the fencing. “Hindi kami papayag dun sa ginagawa sa amin na talagang panggigipit sa lahat ng mamamayan sa Arboretum,” said Asosasyon ng mga tagaPook Arboretum president Rolando Bantegui. “Tapos biglang may panunuya sa amin, pinaglibingan pa ng baboy ang Arboretum,” he added. Dumpsite Barangay security officers and city police personnel buried pig carcasses affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) near the PGH Diliman’s construction site last November 21, according to residents and community organizers. Over 70 pigs were dumped, according to authorities. “Natakot po ako kasi sobrang baho po,” said Railyn Seno, 12, one of the kids playing around the site while the pigs were brought there by officials. “[Arboretum] ang napiling site
13 Disyembre 2019 • www.philippinecollegian.org
na binigay ng UP administration, na dun na ibaon kasi magandang tapunan, magandang baunan talaga yun dahil walang tubig sa ilalim,” said Quezon City Health Department sanitation officer Roberto Daulat. While the ASF cannot affect humans, residents raised concerns over health and sanitation because of the routine garbage and carcass piling up at Block 2. Disinfecting the pigs, while used as a mitigating measure by authorities, is inadequate in addressing the community’s health and sanitation woes, said Alyansa ng mga Samahan sa Diliman (ALSA-DIL) president Carmelita Collado. There is more to the pig dumping incident than meets the eye as it might signal the community officials’ sentiment to push for the residents’ displacement, said ALSA-DIL education volunteer Wilfredo Apinado. “Pantaboy din yung pagtambak ng mga baboy sa mga nandirito, para umalis na yung mga residente,” said Apinado. Lawful action UP Arboretum residents are preparing for a dialogue with the Quezon City government to raise their relocation needs this month. They have been looking for nearby plots where they can relocate, per the request of the local government. The Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 mandates authorities to provide for the Arboretum residents’ housing needs. Around 20 percent of land must be allotted for the socialized housing project of a city, according to article IV section 18 of the law. “Pero syempre kahit papaano ayaw ng UP ibigay kasi for commercial purposes ‘yan,” Basconcillo said, citing the longterm systemwide infrastructure project known as the UP Master Development Plan. “Ngayon
LUCKY DELA ROSA
lang kami nakakarinig sa administrasyon ng UP na parang sa kanila lang ang lupa.” Jago-on, meanwhile, said the university must prioritize the needs of its constituents before the residents’. To resolve the issue, Jago-on said the government must provide attention and state subsidy for
the housing sector to address the country’s housing backlog. UP residents, nevertheless, will be ready to resist. “Lumalaban daw kaming mga taga-Arboretum,” said Bantegui. “Pero ang totoo niyan, ang nagturo saming lumaban ay ang UP din—na ipaglaban ang aming karapatan.” •
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