AT 15, Mark has experienced seven evictions of their home, slept on the pavement while getting soaked in the rain with his parents and three siblings, the youngest being just three years old.
In one of those evictions, Mark recalled that his family was informed by a community leader that their house will be demolished the next day. The family started packing their belongings, but the demolition team arrived that night. There were also members of the Special Weapons Action Team (SWAT) who gave them two hours to leave.
“The demolition team locked the doors of our house and left us on the street,” said Mark. “It rained that night, and we were soaked and had to cover our belongings with plastic.”
Mark said a neighbor was kind enough to offer a roof for his mother and three siblings, while he accompanied his father to look after their belongings along the street.
“When I returned to class, I felt ashamed because during dismissal, my classmates would pass by and see our things along the street,” said Mark.
October 5 is World Habitat Day, and Save the Children Philippines believes that having a secure and adequate shelter has become even more important today with the Covid-19 pandemic where families are required to stay home.
In fact, there is a long-running joke that captures the irony: authorities insist people “stay home” to protect themselves, but can’t look out for those who have no homes to shelter in.
In the Philippines, there are 1.5 million informal settler families, based on estimates of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in 2011. Of this figure, at least 600,000 are in Metro Manila and 220,000 in Calabarzon—coincidentally, two of those regions that registered the highest number of Covid-19 infections.
Children who live in poverty are the most exposed to shocks and calamities in urban settings, according to Atty. Alberto Muyot, chief executive officer of Save the Children Philippines. The situation of these children and their families is further aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic as they have to stay in cramped spaces, with limited access to water, clean toilets and hygiene facilities, thus, making it difficult to comply with health protocols of frequent handwashing and social distancing.
Save the Children Philippines implements the Building Urban Children’s Resilience against the Shocks and Threats of Resettlement (BURST) to ensure children living in informal settlements are protected from harm, have access to education, health and social services. The project also strengthens coordination of local government units (LGUs) both hosting informal settlers and where the families will be relocated.
The child rights organization calls for the enactment of the proposed bills on housing and resettlement, including Senate Bill 1081, or the Just and Humane Resettlement Act (JAHRA), and the Least Displacement of Informal Settler Families Act (LISA) that will help prevent and address the adverse impacts of homelessness, displacement and relocation on the lives of children in informal settlements and relocation sites. The proposed bills also ensure underprivileged and homeless citizens to have access to safe, secure, habitable, sustainable, resilient and affordable housing.
The JAHRA bill seeks to establish housing and resettlement systems and processes that are sensitive to children’s needs and concerns. It prohibits eviction and demolition of informal settler families that do not meet the mandatory requirements.
The proposed mandatory requirements before, during and after any demolition or eviction of ISFs will provide venues for communities, especially children, to be fully informed of government housing programs and resettlement plans, and be consulted about their needs and concerns before, during and after relocation.
At the same time, the LISA bill gives priority to onsite and in-city resettlement for informal settler families. The bill ensures relocated families have continued access to basic services by mandating the sending LGUs to ensure the delivery of these services.
The proposed bill also recognizes children’s right to play by including spaces for children to play and interact with each other as among the basic services that should be provided in relocation sites.
The JAHRA bill also prohibits eviction of informal settler families or demolition of the structures, unless the persons or entities occupy danger areas such as esteros, railroad tracks, garbage dumps, riverbanks, shorelines, waterways and other public places, such as sidewalks, roads, parks and playgrounds.
The initiative also requires the conduct of comprehensive and holistic impact assessment when carrying out evictions due to development project or business venture involving the government.
The impact assessment determines whether the development project will serve the public interest and will explore alternatives and strategies to minimize harm and further violation of human rights of the affected communities, particularly the children, women and other marginalized groups.
The bills also aim to address the dismal situation in relocation sites that are not adequately prepared for the increased demand for services from relocated families.
Save the Children Philippines believes that LGUs that host resettled families should consider them in their plans and budgets.
At the same time, child-concerned agencies like the Departments of Education (DepEd), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Health (DOH) should also look after the children’s needs, concerns and protection during relocation, from self-demolition to actual resettlement.
Three days before Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), 120 families were evicted from their homes in Pasay City on March 12 and had to stay on the streets, putting them and their children at risk of getting infected by Covid-19 and contracting other diseases.
Also during the community quarantine, fire broke out, leaving 60 families homeless, many of them children. The BURST team distributed relief food packages, groceries, fresh produce and hygiene kits to children and their families then staying at the Pasay City North High School, and provided information on protection against Covid-19.
The team also conducted a children’s consultation to elicit their views on the situation and identify issues and recommendations.
Carla (not her real name), 16, was made to carry her neighbor’s baby and a five-year-old child as she ran for safety after fire broke out in a row of shanties in Pasay City in May.
“Our house burnt down. We were not able to save anything but ourselves,” Carla said. She was reunited with her family at a public school, which has been serving as a temporary shelter for the affected families.
When asked what she needs to feel safe and secure, she said: “a safe home, where we have food, water and clothing.”
A simple dream that every child deserves to see fulfilled—and yet remains elusive for millions of them. Before the pandemic, and even now.
*Estrella Torres is Head, Media and Communications for Save the Children Philippines.
Image credits: Bernard Testa, Nonie Reyes