Last November 2, 2020, a deadly fire took place in Road 12, Anonas, Sta. Mesa, Manila that made 2,000 individuals and 650 Families homeless. For almost 7 months, the families took shelter in six different evacuation centers, and one of which is the PUP NDC Covered Court of the College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA). Majority of the individuals and families that were affected by the fire is part of the PUP community; which comprises janitors, security personnel, tricycle drivers, and vendors that are significant members of the said academic institution’s population and family. However, the Road 12 residents who are currently taking shelter in PUP NDC Covered Court are in danger as they are scheduled to be displaced from said evacuation center.
Different relief operations were already conducted by different individuals, students, and volunteer-based organizations like Tulong Kabataan Sta.Mesa and Caritas Manila. But there are certain limitations as to how far donation drives and relief operations can help the community. Given that the problem of the evacuees is also an extension of the different crisis brought by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The community of Road 12, Sta.Mesa took the initiative to organize a union and established the “Samahang Masa ng Road 12 (SMR)”, and collectively push their calls for a more decent housing coherent to their economic disposition, sufficient amount of aid, and free mass testing. This is due to the fact that local authorities within the community and the Local Government Unit of Manila failed to provide the same.
The local authorities in the Barangay 628 gave the Road 12 residents until March 2 before they will be displaced from the NDC Court. The residents of Road 12 along with other youth formations called for an extension and succeeded with the hope of giving the LGU ample time to provide concrete plans for the evacuees, and suffice their need for a decent and secured home. However, after a grueling 6 months of waiting, the residents of Road 12 received none of the same.
Contrary to the narrative given by the local barangay, the residents of Road 12 that are still in the evacuation center thrived to find a source of income for months with the purpose of establishing sufficient financial capacity to find a new home. However, with the drastic decrease of the amount of their income along with the continuous increase of the price of basic necessities, it became impossible for them to earn enough money to find a new home. And only a few of the affected families in the community received aid from the government, which also in fact is still not sufficient (Php 1,000 - Php 4,000).
The PUP administration passed a resolution allowing the Road 12 residents until May 30 to stay in the PUP NDC Court because of the possibility of preparing for limited face-to-face classes. The administration remains closed with dialogues in regards to extension and the local authorities in the Barangay turn a blind eye stating that they are not liable to the families who will be displaced.
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines must remain to be a sanctuary for its members, and that includes the people that build the PUP Community-- and the Road 12 residents are part of that community. The current situation of the Road 12 residents is a product of negligence from the authorities that are supposedly responsible for their needs, and the degree of their plight is amplified because of the current pandemic, As members of our institution, it is our responsibility to take care of each other, especially during times of crisis.
We must shelter the homeless, it is the humane thing to do, it is the right thing to do.
Heed Road 12's calls!
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Photo taken by: Anakbayan PUP
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