Urban Poor

The dumpys in the Philippines turn over wreaked mayhem in the sphere and they argon out of control. The problem is quite obvious and the solution is staring everyone in the face there atomic number 18 retributive not enough common servants with enough guts to address the issue. But any(prenominal)one has to put an final stage to the vicious cycle of squatting particularly in Metro capital of the Philippines where most unforesightful Philippines from the provinces seem to converge. Arrogant Filipino squatters The squatters or guilty settlers wishing to move out of wherever they concord been squatting for geezerhood or until now decades beca apply they simply do not belong there.They have long enjoyed their checkout, living on abandoned or unoccupied argonas of shore up without world asked to move out. Some of them clog the rivers not just with their garbage, ex executionly also with their human waste, which eventually result in the flooding of the streets and resid ential beas of the cities specially in times of heavy rain. As long as the squatters bide where they are and are allowed to flourish, the Philippines will not reach its unspoiled potential as a business hub that finds favor in the eye of foreign investors. Squatters indiscriminately dump waste onto Manilas water federal agencys.In other words, the activities of the people squatting are foul. They have no bushel or respect for the rights or property of others and have total disuse for the environment and welfare of other people. Some squatters sack up also be quite arrogant, defiant and selfish when law enforcement agencies finally clamp pop out on their illegal activities. One video shows illegal settlers berating the philanderyard sheriffand demanding to know when and if they are going to be paid by bills or check before they agree to being relocated. Some even joked that the check better not bounce.They appeared to be enjoying their few minutes of fame in front of the ca mera relating their tales of woes. One wonders wherefore the news crew tends to localize only on their plight and not the story behind why they were allowed to stay there for so long. There is a lot to be said about why they were allowed to stay squatting to begin with. The squatter problem in the Philippines has been do complicated by misguided Filipinos who conjecture that it is the Philippine governments sole responsibility to provide housing, nurture and health for them. Not only is this notion unsustain adapted, it is an unfair burden on taxpayers.Retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno recently said that Filipinos must be able to demand from their government their right to housing, education and health, or these socioeconomic rights would remain mere words on paper. While Punos sentiments seem noble, Filipino taxpayers simply throw outnot afford to fund the growing number of Filipinos living infra the poverty line. Some of these squatters, despite living in tiny billet no bigger than a box, have no qualms about multiplying at a fast rate. Perhaps they have been led to believe that their children can be used to gain access to hand outs from the government.Filipino politicians do not help discharge the problem of squatters at all. If anything, they actually tolerate to their proliferation. The root cause of the squatter problem seems to be the want of urban planning from each Barangay and weak enforcement of the law by members of various agencies who are not doing their jobs properly. Obviously, they did not nip the problem in the bud. Had they been doing their jobs, they could have tardily evicted the first squatter before they multiplied and became the enormous problem they are today.Apparently, there are times when the law enforcement agencies that include the police and the court sheriff are helpless in certain situations. They are supposed to act independently from elected officials but are unable to do their jobs until they move instruction s from city Mayors who hold off on evicting squatters during election harden or when their popularity is waning. This was evident when Davao Mayor Sara Duterte assaulted a court sheriff 2011 because the latter initiated the death of shanties in Davaos Agdao district without her go signal.She said that she felt compelled to cowherd the sheriff to prevent violence from ensuing. The irony in justifying the Mayors actions flee her and a lot of people who supported her when she attracted criticism. Dutertes actions probably made a lot of squatters think they need to be handled with kids gloves. These politicians have encourage squatters who are now quick to throw a tantrum and use violence whenever they are dissatisfied with the governments approaches and arrangements to relocate them.Bianca Gonzalez the long-awaited christ of anti-squatter activism Lately, the squatters sense of entitlement and tough stance have finally caught the attendance of some of the members of the upper and middle class who are fed up with the troubles they are causing. A celebrity and social media activist, Bianca Gonzalez have spoken out against the way the Philippine government treats squatters like babies. She is getting a lot of congratulations for her unwavering stand against the lack of fairness in how the issue is being handled.She highlighted that law-abiding citizens work hard to save property to be able to buy property legally but still get taxed for it spot squatters dont even pay anything to stay in illegitimately occupied lands. Its been noted that a lot of the squatters show their self-confidence while demanding compensation from the taxpayers. Speaking of babies for that matter, some people who cant afford to feed themselves shouldnt have more babies. It has come to the attention of many Filipinos too that a convoluted law on squatters introduced in 1997 has made it difficult for the government to evict squatters.Re habitual Act 7279 just punishes the professiona l squatters. They are defined by law as those who can afford to pay for legitimate housing or those who have certain housing units from the government but have sold or lease it to others so they themselves can settle illegally again in other urban area in order to deceive the system by asking for more compensation. In other words, most squatters dont even get penalized anymore for their illegal activities. They even get rewarded for wreaking havoc in the community.No wonder a lot of Filipinos would rather stay as squatters and have adopted a squatter mentality. Who can discharge the squatter problem in the Philippines? Certainly, the incumbent President Benigno Simeon BS Aquino cannot solve it. Someone even said that the Aquino-Conjuangco clans also act like squatters who have occupied Hacienda Luisita for decades. Violence and intimidation were key to helping them keep the lands that were meant for the poor farmers. BS Aquino seems more preoccupied with his popularity than prov iding a permanent solution to the countrys long-standing issues.He will not risk the wrath of the squatters because the unspecific Party still needs to get their votes in the next presidential election. The President could even increase the number of recipients of the Conditional Cash slay (CCT) or dole outs to the poor as a way distracting them from the lack of progress during his term. The reaction of the members of the thinking class is long overdue. They need to shade up and call out what the government is doing, which is simply coddling the squatters. Philippine politicians need to quit being overprotective of people who abuse the system just to get the votes in the next election.This abusive behavior from both the public officials who buy off votes using tax payers money and squatters who take advantage of the situation need to end lest every quoin of the country get run over by squatters. Photos courtesy Australia word Network, Lucy Who, and Asia Society. Related Posts * A sustainable solution to the squatter problem in the * The problem of squatters in the Philippines cannot be solved * Land ownership underworld The Philippines is Squatter Central * Party-List politicians seek audience with Anti-Squatter * Bianca Gonzalezs Tweet Reveals The Pinoy tenderness Class n