UP Denies Demolitions in Campus, Pushes for Housing Project

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines has denied reports of house demolitions at Pook Malantic in Barangay UP Campus, Quezon City on Wednesday. In a statement, UP said Megawide Construction, contractor of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), only intended to fence the perimeter of the area for on-site transition housing. “There was no demolition ordered or scheduled on that day,” the statement reads. UP assured the public that no one will be displaced as temporary or transition homes will be built to provide secure and dignified shelter to at least 26 informal settler families who may be affected by the proposed construction of low-cost rental housing later this year. “With on-site relocation, no informal settler families will be displaced from their community,” UP said, adding that it owns the land on which the rental housing will be constructed for its staff and informal settler families. “The courts have affirmed many times that UP owns the land in its Diliman campus,” the university stressed. UP noted that in the 2016 decision, the Supreme Court spoke firmly against spurious ownership claims. “Unscrupulous parties have misled many buyers into believing that UP land is for sale,” it said. According to UP, it entered into an agreement with the DHSUD for the construction of 2,000 rental housing units under the agency’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino or 4PH program. The activity on Wednesday was part of the program and in accordance with the agreement, UP added. “The university has a legal duty to protect and utilize its land for the UP community. UP cannot turn a blind eye to the substandard living conditions in its own backyard – it is morally bound to help its most vulnerable community members,” UP said. According to UP, its rental housing initiative is specifically designed to provide affordable, decent, secure and accessible shelter for its staff and the informal settler families as well as protect them from displacement or exploitation by people or groups falsely claiming ownership of or control over the university’s land. “Beyond housing, UP has committed to provide livelihood training and support, sustainable communal urban farming, education and university readiness programs and other initiatives for the welfare of community members,” UP said. Noting Wednesday’s incident, UP said it was saddened by the confrontation between community members and private security personnel augmented by the police. “We recognize the pain and anxiety this incident has caused despite the intention to maintain peace and physical safety. Moving forward, the university will continue to pursue avenues for transparent and productive community dialogues. It previously discussed the housing project in several public consultations with stakeholders, where many families expressed support given their desire for better living conditions,” UP said. It added that UP remains committed to upholding the welfare, rights and dignity of all affected families as well as providing a safe, secure and legally protected housing within UP Diliman.