Behind the Ayala Techno Hub along Commonwealth Avenue, is a sleepy community full of old and new trees. The place has been the home of UP employees and their descendants since the 50's. It is huge and "the subject of scientific study..., green advocacy and University custodianship. Measuring a mere sixteen hectares of the 493-hectare academic institution that is the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines, it supports a diverse collection of plants and wildlife, which, while not necessarily remarkable as compared to undisturbed ecosystems, can still be considered a compelling attempt at environmental preservation in the face of urban accretion and human threat." That is the description of the UP.
However, a rambling is being felt in the area. The big issue is that the Arboretum residents are being agitated to move out of the place without any promise of a relocation site for them. In its last meeting with the Director of the Community Affairs, the officers of the Samahang Magkakapitbahay ng Pook Arboretum, which include the members and the following officers: Antonio Basconcillo, Chairman, Rolando C. Bantegui, vice chairman, Salvacion Tuboro, Secretary, Myrna Repalda, soledad Ravancho, Jose Revilla, Rosita Palana, Teresita Parco, Rosemarie Notarte heard unsavory remarks like: "Magbalut-balot na kayo. "
And so the residents at Arboretum spent the saddest Christmas and New Year in 2018. Question, the Director of the Community Affairs, does she understand what community means? How did she get that post when she exhibits the least compassion for our landless fellow citizens?
And so the residents at Arboretum spent the saddest Christmas and New Year in 2018. Question, the Director of the Community Affairs, does she understand what community means? How did she get that post when she exhibits the least compassion for our landless fellow citizens?
The residents whose grandfathers started the place in he 50's were shocked at the brazen character of the Director. They contend that UP wants to remove them even without any relocation site being offered.
Hence, the residents are asking the help of everyone, the alumni included, to petition UP to stop its commercial interests in the area. Tomorrow, February 4, 2019. a rally will be held in front of the UP administration to be participated in by kiosk owners who sell cheap snacks to students and faculty, faculty members and UP personnel to protest the privatisation of UP.
UP is not really well known at protecting the land for academic pursuits -- it leased the land of the UP High School along Katipunan Avenue to the Makati Conglomerate which had built a mall to sell shoes, shorts and what have you.
No comments:
Post a Comment