PIA Press Release
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 Relocation of San Juan informal settlers to push thru despite tensionby Susan G. de LeonSAN JUAN CITY, Jan. 11 (PIA) —- Despite tension that gripped Barangay Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City early Wednesday, the demolition of shanties and relocation of some informal settler families pushed through. As of press time, San Juan City Public Information officer Grace Cortes-Pardines said that the affected shanties were completely demolished and transport of families to their relocation site is ongoing. Earlier, at about 9:00 a.m., residents of Barangay Corazon de Jesus, believed to be infiltrated by activists, hurled stones and bottles at demolition teams hired by the city government to help informal settlers dismantle their homes. The informal settlers occupy a site where there is an ongoing construction of the new San Juan City Hall in P. Narciso Street. At least 12 people mostly members of the demolition teams were injured according to reports. Prior to the incident, San Juan along with the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP) and the National Housing Authority (NHA), conducted a series of dialogues with the affected residents where they were able to persuade some 123 informal settler families to relocate. San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez said that as agreed upon during the negotiations, the city government will bring the affected families to a relocation site in Southville 8B, barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal. The city government will also provide the settlers with trucking services to transport their belongings, P10,000 in cash, and half-sack of rice, the Mayor added. (PIA NCR-RJB/SDL) | 
