Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada assured more than 300 informal settlers in Intramuros that their shanties would not be demolished until the government finds them a suitable relocation site, as he vowed to find ways to uplift the lives of the poor Manileños.
Despite a court order issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 7 last Sept. 16, 2010, declaring a portion of a lot along Legaspi St. corner Real St., as owned by LG Mathieson Development in Intramuros, the city chief executive stood firm and said there will be no demolition in the city if there is no relocation site for the settlers.
“Even dogs are given place to live. If you destroy their houses, they have nowhere to go. They are not dogs,” Estrada said.
The former President said the Intramuros Administration has a budget of more than P410 million for the resettlement program of informal settlers living inside the historical site.
Estrada promised to extend help to the 300 families who constructed their houses in Barangay 654, Zone 69 and have lived there for several years.
“Don’t worry, even if the court threatened me with contempt by its owner, I will not let your shanties demolished until we find a suitable resettlement for you,” Estrada said.
The residents affected by the demolition order trooped to the Manila City hall and asked the city government to stop the destruction of their shanties, since they have no place to go.
The mayor even cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s instruction to all concerned government agencies of preventing demolitions of informal settlements without sites ready for their transfer.
Aside from resettlement, Estrada, as he did when he was still mayor of San Juan, said he would also extend livelihood assistance to the poor so they can have sources of income.