Published
By Ben Rosario
The House of Representatives on Monday (June 1) called on the Inter-Agency Task
Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to swiftly intervene
on behalf of some 40,000 Caloocan City residents who have been denied water and
electricity services for most of the three-month enhanced community quarantine
(ECQ) period.
Acknowledging the
urgency of addressing the plight of residents of Pangarap Village, lawmakers
immediately approved the appeal of Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice to seek the
IATF’s help.
“Wala silang tubig,
walang kuryente. Walang puso sinuman ang gumagawa nito (They have no water, no
electricity service. Whoever is behind these is merciless),” Erice said in a
privilege speech.
Pangarap Village residents have been virtually trapped in a portion of a
156-hectare property in Caloocan City that was declared alienable and
disposable during the Martial Law era by then-President Marcos.
Erice said they have
been locked in a long legal battle with the private real estate developer
Carmel Development Inc. (CDI) which eventually won a Supreme Court decision in
its favor.
However, the lawmaker
noted that there remains no court-approved order to evict the residents.
“Yet their basic human
rights are being violated by this big development company. They are being
harassed and forcibly evicted, but residents have barricaded themselves in
their community,” Erice revealed.
The veteran lawmaker
aired his strong suspicion that the damage to the water main and the electric
transformer was deliberate in a bid to pressure residents into leaving the
area.
He accused CDI and its security personnel of driving away repair crews sent by
Meralco and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to reinstall the power and water
connections, respectively.
“Residents in Pangarap
have to shell out P80 each day to be able to connect to a power generator,” he
said.
The Lower House asked
the IATF to use its emergency powers under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law to
reinstall the water and electrical connection to the community.
Buhay Party-list Rep.
Lito Atienza said the IATF should also assist the affected residents in
pursuing legal action against CDI.
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