Truck routes set to ease ADB summit traffic

INTERIOR Secretary Jesse Robredo on Friday ordered a halt to the demolition of squatter colonies in Metro Manila pending a review of police and other government policies for informal settlers facing eviction.

“I have directed the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) to conduct a review of all policies and legal orders regarding cases of demolition,” Robredo said in a statement days after a riot triggered by the demolition of a flea market in Parañaque City left a resident dead and nearly 40 people injured.

“Pending the review, all demolitions are ordered stopped … while we’re not yet clear about all related policies and guidelines on this subject,” Robredo added.

He proposed the holding of a “predemolition meeting” between the Philippine National Police, local governments, the National Housing Authority, the affected residents and other stakeholders prior to the execution of any court order authorizing the dismantling of illegal structures.

On Monday, rock-throwing residents of Silverio Compound in Parañaque, backed by militant protesters, clashed with riot police armed with M-16 rifles, in defiance of a court-ordered demolition.

A man died of a gunshot in the head, but an examination by the National Bureau of Investigation indicated that the bullet may have come from a pistol, not from an M-16.

The Southern Police District admitted that live ammunition and not rubber bullets were used by its crowd-control team, but maintained that only warning shots were fired and that the violence was started by the residents, some of whomwere reportedly also armed.

Robredo also warned residents who, aside from arming themselves with rocks and molotov cocktails, were reportedly preparing to bombard police and demolition crews with bags containing excrement and urine.

“They can be arrested because what they plan will only bring harm and their intentions are not good,” he said.

He said Monday’s bloody incident would have not happened if all concerned parties had met beforehand to discuss the demolition.

“The court order indicated that only 61 families would be covered by the demolition. But it seemed all the 5,000 families in the compound were wrongly informed or misled that they would also be affected,” Robredo said. THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has designated an alternative route for vehicles that would be affected by the daytime truck ban to be imposed during the Asian Development Bank (ADB) conference next week.

Trucks heading to North Luzon Expressway from the North and South Harbors could turn to A. Bonifacio and R-10, then make right at C-3, then straight to 5th Avenue, then another left at A. Bonifacio Avenue going to the expressway, said MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino.

The truck ban will be in effect for the duration of the ADB summit on May 2 to 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

In a statement, Tolentino said the ban was intended to decongest the streets and allow diplomats and highlevel officials attending the conference to travel smoothly between the PICC and their points of origin.

About 4,000 delegates, including foreign finance ministers, central bank governors, and representatives from international organizations and the private sector are expected to attend the summit.

“The country stands to gain a lot in economic terms if the hosting of this event proves to be a success, that’s why we are doing our best to make the delegates’ stay in the country comfortable and fruitful,” Tolentino said.

Cargo truck operators have expressed support to the daytime truck ban, but Tolentino said the truckers asked if the government could find a way to secure their vehicles and cargo against thieves.

Since these would be parked along the roads while waiting for the ban to lapse, it could expose the cargo to thieves, the group told the MMDA chair.