MORE than 50 Muntinlupa urban poor residents staged a rally in front of city hall on Monday to air聽their concern over government projects which they fear could lead to their eviction from their聽houses such as the P123颅-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Project (LLEDP).
The protesters鈥攎embers of the Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Maralita ng Muntinlupa who are聽mostly fishermen, informal settlers and relocatees鈥攃alled on the city government to intervene,聽saying they may end up losing both their homes and means of livelihood.
According to the group鈥檚 spokesperson, Ronaldo Molera who is a fisherman, their biggest concern聽was the LLEDP which may be implemented starting next year.
The project calls for the construction of a 47颅-kilometer toll road running from Taguig City to聽Laguna province, a flood control dike to mitigate flooding in communities along the Laguna Lake聽in addition to the reclamation of around 700 hectares of the lake near the cities of Taguig,聽Para帽aque and Muntinlupa.
鈥淭his project will not only affect our means of livelihood but will also displace 20,000 families from聽Muntinlupa,鈥� Molera said.
He added that the fishermen in the area were hoping that the project would not push through聽since it would target fishing grounds.
In a dialogue granted by the city government on Monday, planning officer Noel Cadorna said that聽the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had proposed assistance for families who聽would be affected by the project.
He added that while the Muntinlupa government was supportive of the LLEDP, it could not ignore聽the rights of residents who stand to be displaced.
For her part, Urban Poor Affairs Office head Alita Ramirez said that a relocation site was already聽being planned although the details have yet to be forwarded to the city government and the聽National Housing Authority.
Sought for comment, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said that though the city government supported聽national projects, due process must be followed to avoid displacing residents.