A ranking official of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor Commissioner (PCUP) has initiated exploratory talks with the Carmel Development Inc. (CDI) to address concerns and issues being raised by over 1,000 informal settler families in a dispute lot in Pangarap Village in barangays 181 and 182, Caloocan City.
Commissioner Rey Galupo for the National Capital Region met with a CDI representative, field operations manager Ryan Arojo, who gave the assurance to exert efforts to ensure that the rights of the beleaguered residents would not be violated, and that they would be given sufficient time to be relocated.
He said he has informed Arojo that he would see Caloocan City Mayor Dale Malapitan discuss the possible relocation of the residents.
He vowed to “seriously” fulfill PCUP’s mandate to assist the urban poor within the boundaries of the law.
“We are here for everyone. While we are mandated to protect the rights of the urban poor, we must also ensure that the stakeholders, including property owners, are likewise protected on the basis that under our Constitution everyone is entitled to equal protection of the law,” he said.