Prioritize urban poor issues, Duterte admin told

A caused-oriented group has lead the urban poor, Bagyong Sendong victims and demolition victims in the city to organized themselves and to ask President Rodrigo Duterte to act on their dire situation during the commemoration of the 68th Universal Declaration of Human Rights Day, over the weekend.

Francisco Pagayaman, secretary general of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay-northern Mindanao Region), said the problem of the urban poor sector should be the main concern of the Duterte administration.

He said in Cagayan de Oro alone, instead of providing work for the local residents a series of demolition has been happening without providing an area of relocation for the victims.

“Mikaylap na man nuon ang demolisyon nga wala pa ang relokasyon sama sa pagdemolish sa mga kabalayan sa Brgy. 31 kung asa ang mga namuyo didto kay nag-antos karon sa basketball court,” he said.

Pagayaman said even those identified “Bagyong Sendong survivors” who have already transferred to some identified relocations sites have been complaining that they still do not have regular supply of potable water.

“Layo karon sila sa ilang panginabuhian, hospital, merkado, eskwelahan ug uban pa. Sa panginabuhian usab kaylap ang pagpa-ngarate sa mga sidewalk vendors ilabina ang duol sa Cogon Public Market, idugang pa ang pag-demolish sa ila karong umaabot nga Enero,” he added.

Pagayaman claimed that they are also calling for the present national administration to immediately intervene on the issue and rightful implementation of the minimum wage order and the immediate stoppage of the so called contractualization.

“Kaylap ang kontraktwalisasyon kung asa ang mga trabahante walay seguridad sa ilang mga trabaho ug dili makadawat og mga benepisyo taliwala nga pila na sila ka-tuig gatrabaho sa ilang mga employer,” he pointed out.

For this, they urging the present local administration to follow the standing order of President Duterte that there should be no demolition without any relocation provided to the affected families first. (Lito Rulona)