press release - english

ARENDA URBAN POOR FEDERATION INC. (AUPFI)
Lupang Arenda, Bgy Sta. Ana, Taytay, Rizal

PRESS RELEASE
January 5, 2010

LUPANG ARENDA RESIDENTS TROOPED TO MALACAÑANG CALLING FOR REJECTION OF THE PROPOSED REVOCATION OF PROC. 704

Thousands of residents of Lupang Arenda trooped Malacanang this morning to show their objection to the proposed revocation of Proclamation 704. The said proclamation was issued by President Fidel Ramos on November 28, 1995 and opened some 80 hectares of public lands in protected wetlands to accommodate the growing number of informal settlers along Pasig river and less privileges families of Taytay, Rizal. But President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is preparing to revoke Proclamation 704 coming from wrong information from DENR based on inaccurate information and mis-appreciation of the objective situation of the proclaimed site. The recommendation was primarily based on the situation of a community outside of the proclaimed site and portrayed as the whole situation of the families within proclamation 704.

According to Recto M. Bagay, president of Arenda Urban Poor Federation, Inc. (AUPFI), the aggravated flooding experienced within the proclaimed site was due to the negligence of the agency implementing and maintaining the Metro Manila Flood Control Project, based on the Memorandum of Agreement of 2003 signed and entered into by different national agencies including Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

Proclamation 704 being situated at 12.5 m. el. does not affect the viability of the proclamation as a housing project if only the Metro Manila Flood Control Project was fully implemented and properly maintained by the concerned agency.

They said they will continue their strong opposition to the proposed revocation of Proclamation 704 until proper consultation, negotiation and lasting solution will be met. They are appealing to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to defer the signing of the revocation and conduct re-evaluation and consultation among the stakeholders.


For further details, please contact: Vicente “Teng” Barlos, vice-president of AUPFI at 09215666586, or visit aupfi’s website at http://aupfi.blogspot.com