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Rich developers, not squatters, giving MMDA real problem – BF

By Pat C. Santos

11/07/2009

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Rich real estate developers, and not the informal settlers, are the ones giving the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) problems in reclaiming occupied waterways in the metropolis.

This was stressed by both MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and former First Lady and first Metro Manila Commission (MMC) Governor Imelda Romualdez-Marcos during an interview with the media during the 34th anniversary celebration of the MMDA yesterday.

Marcos said during her time as governor of then MMC, she encountered more difficulties in ejecting developers that encroached on waterways compared to informal settlers because the former had more power to resist.

Marcos cited her experience when she ordered the dredging of the esteros where Mile Long and Ecology Village are now situated.

“Malakas ang resistance during that time because those who encroached on the waterways are private individuals who have the money unlike the informal settlers who can easily be relocated,” Marcos said.

Fernando agreed with the observation of Marcos, saying informal settlers can be evicted in just one day but it takes months before private developers can be finally ejected.

Fernando cited the case of the shrine of national hero Apolinario Mabini which took three months and entailed P50 million to relocate it.

“Nang magsimula kami na maglinis ng mga harang at encroachment sa daanang tubig natuklasan namin na ang shrine ng ating bayani na si Apolinario Mabini ay naka-squat so we decided to relocate it but it took months before we eventually transferred it to another site,” Fernando said.

Marcos, aside from expressing support to the effort of Fernando, appealed to everybody, including developers, to respect the natural topography of an area to prevent floodings.

She said during her time they crafted a grand plan that included the reclamation of some 5,000 hectares of Manila Bay all the way to parts of Cavite province to make space for the construction of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and other edifices that are now the landmarks of her many projects.

“Metro Manila is two feet below sea level so we reclaimed 5,000 hectares from Manila Bay that reached up to Cavite and dredged the sea to make way to big vessels to anchor in the area,” Marcos said.

She added when she was elected as governor of Metro Manila her husband, former President Ferdinand Marcos, advised her that she must decide what is good for all and acceptable to the leader and not for oneself alone.