Solutions to Squatting (Informal Dwellers)

[skyglider]

FINALLY, the MMDA has thrown in the towel after admitting that its flood control program "may be hampered by the lack of relocation sites for informal dwellers/squatters."

Complete article: http://www.mb.com.ph/OPED2006061366666.html

One reason for the continuous growth of squatting can be blamed to our ever loving traditional politicians. They need them for votes and more votes.

My suggestion is that Congress should pass a law that prohibits squatters to vote.

Do you think it is a suppression of human rights? Right of Suffrage to be exact.

What do you think guys/girls?

[mazdamazda]

hay... these urban squatters should have never gone to Manila in the first place.

in the provinces... they maybe poor (relative to those living here) but at least you get to eat decently and have a roof over your head.

you can even up the ante by only allowing those that file ITRs to vote.

[FrankDrebin]

Dump the stupid Lina Law.

[laklak]

When we were in Pagudpud last april, we met a young idealistic vice mayor from Bataan. Siempre usapang politics, tapos napunta sa mga squatters. Ang sabi niya, one possible way to get rid of them is to deny them all the basic utilities, electricity and water. Makes sense diba? San ka makakakita ng squatter na may kuryente at tubig pero walang pinanghahawakang titulo ng lupa na kinatitirikan ng bahay nila.

[kimpOy]

you can even up the ante by only allowing those that file ITRs to vote.

agree 10000%

[HIFI]

When we were in Pagudpud last april, we met a young idealistic vice mayor from Bataan. Siempre usapang politics, tapos napunta sa mga squatters. Ang sabi niya, one possible way to get rid of them is to deny them all the basic utilities, electricity and water. Makes sense diba? San ka makakakita ng squatter na may kuryente at tubig pero walang pinanghahawakang titulo ng lupa na kinatitirikan ng bahay nila.

Wala yan. Ang gagaling nila. Kayang-kaya nila mag illegal tap. Meralco and other utilities has given up a long time ago. So instead, ginawa na nilang legit, dagdag pa sa revenues.

[Altis6453]

It's tricky because not only do you go up against politicians who coddle them, but also the catholic church who would protest loudly any kind of demolition or ejectment that you do against squatters.

[Autobeat]

My suggestion is that Congress should pass a law that prohibits squatters to vote.

This is an interesting option. At least officials will no longer fear the loss of votes when implementing laws. Since squatters now can vote, at times officials do favors for them, over nearby legitimate residents who purchased the land, and are paying property taxes, also because the legitimate residents are usually less in number when it comes to these conflicts.

I'm sure though, that human rights will be questioned. Maybe they can give a 1-3year leeway before implementation?

[Autobeat]

Dump the stupid Lina Law.

Is this the law requiring a relocation site for squatters before one could reclaim the land from them?

[Chip]

you can even up the ante by only allowing those that file ITRs to vote.

AGREE!!!

why should people who dont pay taxes directly have a say on what to do with OUR taxes?!

[Altis6453]

Is this the law requiring a relocation site for squatters before one could reclaim the land from them?

The Lina Law was intended for squatters on public (meaning government-owned) land. The government has to look for a relocation site before these squatters' shanties could be demolished. Stupid law nga. As far as I'm concerned, if you have squatters sa estero, sa riles ng tren at sa ilalim ng tulay, they are considered as nuisance per se and may be removed forthwith considering that they are blocking an important public infrastructure.

[Jun aka Pekto]

Hmmm. Didn't Las Pinas City relocate its squatters to low-cost housing?

[jv20]

there's a need to amend the constitution about the qualifications of voters.

[redorange]

Stop giving the squatters more rights for the land than the land owners. Right now if you own land and someone squats in your property you can't just kick them out without the clearance of the barangay. They don't pay the property tax but they get to stay on the land. It's no wonder that some of them have a/c, cable, and cars in their houses because they don't have to pay for anything.

[cutedoc]

poverty is the root cause of it all that why there are spawns of squatters, tama si laklak, when i was studying we were looking for indigent patient in the squatters area, naka washing machine sila, me cable tv pa, though siksikan sila sa maliit na lugar but they have the luxury in life...

birth control, kung sabi ng simbahan na masama ang condom, mas masama kung mas madaming mamatay sa hirap, in fabella hospital (a low end public hospital) they do a mandatory ligation after the mother gave birth, lalo na kung nakadami na sila, i think that is more proper sans religious hindrances.

relocate them somewhere far so that they wont clog manila, manila is not always a land oh dreams and hope, yes there are job opportunities but if we ourselves strive harder everywhre could be a better place. after relocating them, educate them, have a good, efficient social worker man the community, they would not just treat the settlement are as their hotel but the govt should teach them livelihood project for them to earn, so that they wont need to fled the re settlement area and flock in manila.

on the said community, there should be ample fund and people living there should moderate a sufficient income to supplement their needs, a school, church, hospital should also be made available, its like transferring them to a community where they could start an d live on their own.

[van_wilder]

as far as i can remember, the original idea of democracy (greek era) is that only CITIZENS are allowed to vote... you dont pay taxes... you dont vote... squatters? you dont vote... maraming restrictions... being a citizen is not a right, its a privelege together with a big responsibility... citizens should be an asset to the state... if not... tsk tsk... the state should only retain what is productive and simply cut its losses...

the root: everyone's idea of "the grass is greener on the other side..."

mga tao mahilig talaga sa tsismis... germans going somewhere else, americans going to iraq... filipinos going somewhere else... haaay... buhay... ganda sa pinas eh aalis kayo...

[silhouette]

interesting.
i wonder where did binay relocated his votes, este squatters along the riles?

[wren]

solution to squatting? eto!

[oldblue]

so si Lina pala me kagagawan niyan. sabi ko na nga ba eh wala ako katiwa-tiwala sa balimbing na yun (erap pet then turned Edsa 2 initiator). pati mukha nya parang ang hirap pagkatiwalaan

[uls]

the urban poor is a huge political base no politician dare to touch.

The last thing a politician wants is to have an anti-poor image.

To win votes, dapat maka-masa ka.

Look at Binay. the makati urban poor is responsible for his power, not the forbes or dasma residents.

No politician has the guts to phase out PUJs.

No politician has the guts to do anything unpopular.

And they say the poor are oppressed. They are virtually untouchable.