AS the country’s attention is glued to the horrifying spike in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases nationwide, I would like to go back to an issue that I previously discussed in my columns. Although I will attack it on a different perspective, this also has a significant impact on the dreadful Covid-19 situation we are in.
I am referring to the continued existence of informal settlers along urban creeks and river banks, even if these areas have been declared danger zones and subject to legal easement as provided by law. I find it disturbing to see how these illegal settlers have become so brazen with their illegal occupancy of state-owned and even some private properties. Surprisingly, they are practically left alone to worsen urban blight, unbothered by local government officials.
Isn’t it the responsibility of local and barangay officials to monitor the rivers and creeks in their areas of jurisdiction to ensure that informal settlers do not illegally occupy them? If they refuse to do their jobs for whatever reason, these local and barangay officials are equally guilty. They surely know that creeks and riverbanks are supposed to be free of illegal settlers. But it’s not what we see in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other urban centers in the country.
The myriad problems created by informal settlers along rivers and creeks are most felt during the rainy season. A waste and pollution watchdog deplored the reckless disposal of solid and human waste in these waterways by the illegal settlers, causing siltation and clogging the flow of water, which usually worsens inundation. As we all know, most if not all houses in squatter colonies do not have septic tanks. The disposal of human waste in plastic bags by illegal settlers worsens the floods triggered by monsoon rains and typhoons. This recurring problem is costing the government hundreds of millions of pesos every year just to dredge clogged rivers and creeks to mitigate the damage caused by frequent flooding.
By now we should have realized the magnitude of the problems caused by informal settlers during fires when fire trucks can’t get through narrow alleys in these crowded communities. In fact many fires in squatter colonies were triggered by power overloads, if not faulty electrical wirings. And yet, the slums are provided with electricity even without the approved electrical plan.
Legitimate landowners who want to build a house on their property have to secure a building permit, and submit the necessary electrical and sewerage plans, among others, before they can start construction. Informal settlers, on the other hand, need not secure any permit whatsoever, and yet they are given all the basic utilities like power and water.
So, are we just going to leave things as they are? Are we not going to go after those responsible for allowing informal settlers to live in danger zones like along riverbanks and creeks? Somebody has to be answerable to the Filipino people. Barangay and local officials should be held accountable for dereliction of duty by condoning the unlawful activities of informal settlers in their respective jurisdictions.
Are they being allowed to stay in danger zones for monetary consideration, political favor, or both? I learned that some informal settlers living in their concrete three-story homes with split-type air-conditioning units sans structural and electrical plans, among others, have even rented out rooms in their illegally constructed homes.
And now that the National Capital Region has become the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, let me remind local government officials that the citizenry are demanding the accountability of those who may have been neglectful of their duties.
I appeal to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and to local and barangay officials to give priority to the relocation of informal settlers living along creeks and riverbanks. Otherwise, they could be contributory to disasters. Bear in mind that those who tacitly allowed the construction of up to three-story houses along river banks, including those that provided connection to basic utilities like power and water to these houses, could also be liable for the disaster waiting to happen. Do we need legitimate homeowners to file a test case before we move? Let us know.
Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.