URGENT ACTIONS

Philippines: The right to food of poor fishers’ families is threatened in Navotas, Manila

CASES

In the municipality of Navotas, Manila, several hundreds of poor fishers’ families are facing eviction. In May 2006, the houses of about 560 families in the village of North Bay Boulevard were demolished due to a road-widening project, while another 160 families who live within the compound of Philippines Fisheries Development Authority may face an eviction as the plot they currently occupy will be leased to a business enterprise. Since most of the affected families earn their living through fisheries or fisheries-related industries, eviction without providing relocation site will endanger their right to food.

Background

The municipality of Navotas is located in the north-western part of Metro Manila. It is the fish trading capital of the Philippines and the site of the Navotas Fish Port Complex, the largest fish port facility in Southeast Asia. The area is densely populated with poverty being a stark reality. 

In May 2006, the houses of some 560 families in the village of North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas City were demolished by 150 personnel of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in May 2006. The reason stated by the MMDA for the demolition was the road widening of the R-10 radial road being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). While 100 families accepted P15,000 each (about 350 USD) to relocate, around 200 families who belong to the “Samahang Marlita Nagkakasisa sa R10” (Association of the United Poor at R 10) have rejected the offer and are demanding for a relocation site.

In another incident, about 160 families living within the compound of the Philippines Fisheries Development Authority at Navotas are facing a threat of eviction. The families were told by fish port officials in April 2008 that the 2,500 square meter lot inside the fish port they are occupying will be leased to a business enterprise. Although the same officials offered P51,000 (about 1200 USD) to qualified squatters, the families turned down the offer. There was no relocation site proposed.  
 
In both cases, the heads of the affected families derive their income from the fisheries and fisheries-related industries in the Navotas Fish Port Complex in order to feed themselves adequately. Their right to food is therefore is threatened, if they are displaced without retaining access to the port.

FIAN Mandate
The Philippines is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and therefore bound under international law to respect and protect the right to food of these residents in Navotas. Evicting the poor fishers’ families without offering a relocation site which will provide employment opportunities and viable social services is a violation of the right to food. Without any source of income, the right to food of these families is at stake.

Call to Action
Please write a polite letter to Vice President Noli de Castro, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and Mr. Federico Laxa, General Manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA), requesting them to resettle the families of fish port workers at a location with access to their place of work. 

0806UPHL

Honorable Noli de Castro:
Recientemente, me informaron de dos casos de desalojo en Navotas. En mayo de 2006, los hogares de unas 560 familias en la aldea de North Bay Boulevard South, Navotas City, fueron arrasadas por 150 personas de la Autoridad para el Desarrollo de Metro Manila (MMDA). La motivación aducida por la MMDA fue la ampliación de la carretera radial R-10 que estaba realizando el Departamento de Obras Públicas y Autopistas (DPWH). Si bien 100 familias aceptaron 15.000 pesos (unos 350 USD) para su reacondicionamiento, unas 200 familias pertenecientes a Samahang Marlita Nagkakasisa sa R10 (asociación de los pobres unidos en R 10) han rechazado la oferta y están solicitando un lugar donde puedan volver a establecerse. Otro caso es el de las 160 familias que viven en tierras de la Autoridad Filipina para el Desarrollo Pesquero en Navotas y que corren peligro de ser expulsadas. Las familias fueron informadas por las autoridades portuarias en abril de 2008 de que 2.500 metros cuadrados de la tierra que están ocupando dentro del puerto pesquero serán arrendados a una empresa. A pesar de que las propias autoridades ofrecieron 51.000 pesos a los ocupantes autorizados, las familias rechazaron la oferta. No se les había ofrecido un lugar donde pudieran reinstalarse. 
  En ambos casos, las cabezas de familia se ganan la vida con la actividad pesquera en el puerto “Navotas” o con actividades relacionadas a ella, a fin de poder alimentarse adecuadamente. Filipinas es Estado Parte del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales y tiene, por tanto, la obligación de derecho internacional de respetar y proteger el derecho a la alimentación de estos residentes en Navotas. Si estas familias no cuentan con fuente de ingresos, su derecho a la alimentación corre grave peligro. Por ello, me gustaría solicitarle, Honorable President, que ofrezca a las familias afectadas un lugar donde puedan reinstalarse y desde el que tengan acceso al puerto pesquero.

Reciba un cordial saludo,

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