Daizy Pedranza, vice-president of the 500-strong association, said their fear rose out of the demolition last December of 15 houses near the 600- MGW coal-fired power plant of the San Miguel Global Consolidated Power Corp.
The coal power plant is humming with construction activities that Derick Cabe of Kilusan Pambansang Demokratiko said per timeline of San Miguel, it will be operational this year.
Cabe claimed that although the house owners accepted payment, the demolition took place in the absence of due process. Owners were reportedly paid from P30,000 to P300,000, she said.
She said that per memorandum circular 134-2010 of the Department of Interior and Local Government, no demolition should be undertaken without relocation.
Cabe said there must be adequate and genuine consultation with the community and ready relocation site as required by the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) and other laws.
“Kapag isa-isang kinausap, walang alam ang mga tao sa karapatan nila,” she said.
“Nangangamba kami na sa nangyaring demolition, baka maapektuhan din ang may isang libong bahay pa sa 13.6 ektaryang lupa sa PEX site,” Pedranza said.
Pedranza accepted the fact that they do not have titles to the lots reportedly belonging to the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).
“Ngunit hindi ito nangangahulugan na wala kaming karapatan sa tungkuling kilalanin, proteksiyunan at ipatupad ng estado,” she said.
“Hindi kami laban sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng Limay. Ang gusto lamang naming mangyari ay ang maayos na pamamaraan bago i-demolish ang mga bahay,” she said.
Pedranza asked that no demolition be made without ready relocation. “Bago magdemolish, dapat may maayos na mga bahay na kumpleto ng tubig, kuryente, school, simbahan at malapit sa hanapbuhay,” she said.
Barangay Lamao Chairman Burt Reyes, however, downplayed the fear of residents: “Wala akong alam na maapektuhan na ang isang libong bahay at lalo na ang 13.6 ektaryang lupa. Ang alam ko 56 na kabahayan lamang na pumayag na pabayad.”
Reyes said the 56 house owners told Bataan Gov. Albert Garcia they were willing to accept payment for the demolition of their houses.
He said the governor assured the house owners that they will be given priority in the planned relocation site in the province. Reyes could not be sure, however, when the relocation site will start construction and where it will be built.
