Despite the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor said it will continue to assist residents whose houses were demolished along a railway in Laguna.
PCUP chairperson and chief executive officer Alvin Feliciano said he would write the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Railway, Philippine National Police and Laguna’s Cabuyao City government to inform them about the “illegal” demolition that is contrary to Memorandum Circular No. 2020- 068.
Last July 23, the agency reached out to 25 families that had been displaced by the demolition in Barangay Dos, Philippine National Railway Southrail in Cabuyao to extend legal support.
The PCUP is determined to enforce Memorandum Circular No. 2020-068 stating that no demolition should proceed during a national state of emergency issued by the DILG.
It added that they would request a formal dialogue with all the agencies involved in the demolition in order to formulate and come up with plans and other initiatives.
Feliciano said any demolition should be in accordance with the law, and must have a legal basis.
“No relocation, no demolition,” the agency said, referring to the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte.