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One Week in the Philippines
Come ! - Armed with SOLUTIONS !
From a successful meeting of 7,000 people
from the Payatas Dumpsite community and Philippines Homeless People’s
Federation in collaboration with SDI and ACHR, a week’s activity in the
Philippines began and evolved into successful meetings with the Housing
Secretary of the Philippines, a meeting with President Estrada; a cheque
from the President for 15 million pesos for the Manila federations urban
poor development fund; promises of more for the fund in other cities in which
Federation operates; plus agreements on land, relocations, on-site
developments; as well as agreements on Presidential participation in the
coming (November) Security of Tenure Campaign Launch in the
Philippines.
The events took place against the backdrop
of the Magsaysay Awards Presentation in which long time ACHR friends Jockin
Arputham and Jesse Robredes received awards for International Understanding
and Government Service respectively. Jesse and Jockin were able to open more
doors to ADB, WB, and high level government officials in the Philippines in
meetings which bought communities NGOs, governments and multi- lateral
agencies together for discussions and proposals vital to the urban poor
communities throughout the Philippines.
Sun Aug 27th
7,000 members of the Philippines
Homeless Peoples Federation gathered with Payatas dump Site communities
and proposed alternative resettlement plans to members and government.
Housing Secretary of the
Philippines Ms Lennie de Jesus and slum dwellers from Sri Lanka, India
and Indonesia attended. 9 model houses were set up with detail on
construction costs, land sites and plans.
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IMPACT
The Housing Secretary informed us she was so very impressed with the
constructive spirit of gathering, the solid alternative and viable solutions
presented, and the ability of the savings federation to offer partnership
with, rather than demands from, government.
Federation representatives were invited to meet with her on August 30th.
August 30th
The meeting with the National Secretary of Housing
Discussions on urban poor
communities taking the lead in its own development processes on issues
of land, housing, loan funds, bridging finance, etc.
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Amongst the delegates
were communities from Payatas, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, SPARC and
ACHR
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IMPACT
A delegation was invited to meet in 2
days time with the President of the Philippines Joseph Estrada
Sept 1st
MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT
Community leaders from Payatas,
Philippine's Homeless Peoples Federation, SDI, ACHR and Magsaysay Winner
Jockin Arputham, and the Housing Secretary were present.
The President gave us an hour and ten minutes and a very informal,
concrete, and constructive meeting.
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Above from the left: Fr Norberto
Carcella, Jessie Robredo, Jockin Arputham, President Estrada, Celine
D'Cruz, Sheela Patel
Left: The cheque to Vincentian MSDI
- the Philippines Homeless People's Federation -
15,000,000 Pesos.
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Impacts
A 15 million peso cheque (written and signed) was given to the Manila Homeless
Peoples Federation to establish an urban poor fund; savings groups agreed to
contribute 3 million of their own savings.
A promise to contribute a similar amount to the
Federation funds in the 6 other cities in which the Federation operates.
A promise to fast track and help facilitate
relocations (if needed) of poor communities to identified government owned
land as well as on-site up-gradation.
The Housing Secretary agreed to continue
collaborations and also attend the Secure Tenure Campaign Launch in South
Africa later this month as a guest of ACHR and SDI.
The President would also attend and collaborate
with us in the Secure Tenure Campaign Launch in the Philippines later in
October. Together we would try to invite to the launch, Nelson Mandela (who
has recently expressed a personal interest in the campaign) and UN Sec Gen
Koffe Annan.
MORE August
31st: The Magsaysay Award Presentations HERE
MORE Sept 2
- 3rd: Secure Tenure Campaign Preparations, Pasig River and more
HERE
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