WE CALL FOR A DIALOGUE TO FIND PERMANENT SOLUTIONS TO EXTREME POVERTY
Since October 11, 2019, we have witnessed demolitions at Manila North Cemetery. The families living there are also in danger of being evicted from it starting November 4.
The inhabitants of Manila North Cemetery already suffer from the consequences of extreme poverty and these measures are creating a situation for them of total vulnerability which affects the schooling of children, the livelihood of families, and the physical and psychological health of the people, especially senior citizens and children.
We support the petition of the families of Manila North Cemetery to stop the evictions and demolition of homes to give them more time to work on permanent solutions that aim to eradicate extreme poverty and assure their rights to education and proper housing.
We are willing to create bridges and support a dialogue between the city government of Manila and the inhabitants of Manila North Cemetery, involving the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to find long term solutions to a situation that has lasted for generations, and the principal consequence is that these families have nowhere else to go.
Our experience has shown us that a better way to find solutions to end extreme poverty is to involve the community in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of programs meant for them, merging the resources of institutions together with the knowledge acquired by the life experiences of people living in extreme poverty. We believe in working together through a peaceful and constructive dialogue to build together the future of the Philippines, and its capital Manila, as a nation that respects everyone’s dignity and leaves no one behind.
This petition is done with Kapatiran-Kaunlaran Foundation Inc. (KKFI), SAMANTAGANOR, INC. & NHOAI.
For more information or to help us support this petition, email us : philippines@atd-fourthworld.org. Press contact: Icia de Guzman lldeguzman1@up.edu.ph