New Wawa Dam park could displace barangay residents Edson C. Tandoc Jr. Inquirer
November 14, 2006
MORE than 200 families in mountain barangay of San Rafael, Rodriguez in Rizal province are in danger of losing their homes if the plan to put up a park in the Wawa Dam watershed area pushes through.
Residents in the area have already put up a barricade to prevent the demolition of their houses located on the road leading to the site of the proposed park, Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas spokesperson Carl Ala told the Inquirer.
Some residents in the area are members of the nongovernment organization.
Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo confirmed that he had already started preparations for putting up the park. He also admitted that families illegally occupying the area would have to move out.
“We are preparing a relocation area for the affected families which is just near the place. There will also be business opportunities for these families once the park is finished,” Cuerpo also told the Inquirer.
But Ala, quoting their members in the area, claimed that Cuerpo was planning to build a subdivision and not merely a park in the watershed, which is a protected area.
The picturesque view of the watershed has also attracted tourists to the area, he added.
