These days, the struggle against demolition of urban poor settlements in Metro Manila, Philippines is intensifying once again as a result of the government's latest efforts to decongest the metropolis and demolish urban poor houses affected by government priority infrastructure projects and those located along the so-called danger zones. Various urban poor groups are resisting and denouncing the demolition efforts and have forged a unity with Kilos Maralita, the alliance of urban poor organizations campaigning for social protection in the Philippines.

Last August 31, 2009, as the Philippines marked National Heroes Day, Kilos Maralita (Movement for Social Protection of the Poor) held a mobilization in Manila's Mendiola Street, famous for being the venue of protest actions. The mobilization slammed the government's plan to demolish informal settlements and expressed outrage at the government's failure to become "heroes" to champion the rights of the poor.

The Metro Manila Inter-Agency Committee on Informal Settlers (MMIAC) has identified at least 5,000 squatter families as the initial beneficiaries of its Comprehensive Shelter Program (CSP), which is MMIAC's relocation project for informal settlers in Metro Manila.

According to Kilos Maralita, the government's strategy to address the plight of the urban poor remains anti-poor and misses the real issue.

"The plan is to relocate the urban poor into new settlements. It is as if the only issue here is the lack of housing. The urban poor desperately need jobs and livelihood opportunities. Even if they give us a house, how are we going to pay for it if we don't have income? We may move into a new house but if we don't pay off the amortization, we would lose the house after a few months," said the National Urban Poor Coalition, a member of Kilos Maralita.

The mobilization urged the government to proclaim public domains and expropriate private lands presently occupied by informal settlers.

NUPCO added that the struggle against demolition is intensifying and is presenting significant moments for the social protection campaign to gain ground.

"The point is not that the poor need housing. The poor need social protection -- especially at this time of economic crisis. We are asserting this point and we intend to bring it into the election debates. The campaign for the 2010 national elections here will commence soon so we are bracing for more intense and broader efforts to mobilize as well as advocate for social protection," said Kilos Maralita.

According to MMIAC, there are currently 544,609 squatter families in Metro Manila. Of these, 73.29 % or 399,110 are illegally occupying private and government-owned lands. Another 6.46 % or 35,198 are in areas affected by government priority projects, while 19.83 % or 107,997 are living in danger areas, such as along creeks and other waterways.