The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay)-Laguna condemned the arrival of an 8-10-person demolition team in Barangay Nueva, San Pedro, Laguna on January 31 to implement the threat of demolition on the coastal railway. On January 7, the Department of Transportation warned locals that they would be evicted that day despite the absence of a court order for demolition.

“Nueva locals still have no certainty that they will receive housing and proper relocation,” according to Kadamay-Laguna. It is unfair and inhumane to railroad the demolition without a clear relocation from the government, it said.

The group called on the local government of San Pedro to heed the grievances of the locals living along the planned coastal railway and prevent the looming demolition.

Kadamay secretary general Mimi Doringo also denounced the demolition threat. “Our government no longer provides jobs or livelihood to the people, it even takes away their livelihood,” he said.

He said, the urban poor has just cause to fight for their right to security of livelihood, residence, and affordable goods and social services. Doringo is one of the Makabayan senatorial candidates. Her main platform is to defend the rights of the urban poor and the toiling women.