Press Release
August 9, 2009

ROXAS: OUT WITH ILLEGAL DEMOLITIONS, CORRUPTION
ONLY AN ACTIVIST GOV'T IN 2010 CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN, HE SAYS

If he has his way, illegal and inhumane demolition of homes of informal settlers would be stopped, while those who cannot be spared from lawful demolition orders from courts would be relocated in urban communities that would get sufficient financial support from the government, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas promised Sunday.

Roxas, speaking before the Urban Poor Alliance Presidentiables' Forum held at the Ateneo de Manila University, said he would execute to its full letters the mandate of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 to ensure that homeless and underprivileged Filipinos in urban areas would have access to decent homes.

"Tungkulin ng gobyernong masiguro na nabubuhay nang may dignidad ang bawat mamamayan (It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that its people live dignified lives)," he declared as the centerpiece of his policies for the urban poor.

But reversing President Arroyo's anti-poor policies would require that the people elect an activist government -- a government that would ensure the homeless and underprivileged Filipinos in urban areas would have access to decent homes, the Visayan senator posited.

An activist government that would serve and listen to Filipinos' true voices and demands in times of political discourse would bring the nation back to its feet following a nine-year rule of corruption and power abuse, Roxas said.

This activist government would spare no one, whether rich or poor, if they violate the laws, he added.

"Isang gobyernong nakatuntong sa matibay na bato ng moralidad, at hindi sa marupok na buhangin ng korapsyon at pansariling interes, ito 'yung tinatawag kong activist government (A government standing on strong pillars of morality, not on a quicksand of corruption and personal interests. This is what I call an activist government)," he said.

"Ito 'yung gobyernong tapat sa tungkulin at mapagkakatiwalaan; 'yung gobyernong mabilis kumilos; handa sa kahit anong krisis, bukas sa pagbabago, hindi matigas ang ulo. Mapagmalasakit; nararamdaman ang paghihirap ng mga Pilipino, at kumikilos para ibsan ang paghihirap na ito. At higit sa lahat, ang activist government ay isang gobyernong nakikinig (It is a government that is not only faithful to its duties but could be trusted as well; a government that is quick to act; one that is ready to face any crisis and is open to reforms; one that truly cares about the Filipino people. And most of all, an activist government listens to its people)," he added.

"Sisiguruhin ko na maparurusahan ang sinumang lumalabag sa batas, mayaman o mahirap, nasa poder man o wala (I will make sure that law violators, regardless of their political or social stature, are punished and sent to jail)," he vowed.

He also said: "Hindi magiging madaling umasang ookey pa ang lahat. Hindi madaling lumaban at sabihing kaya pa natin ito. Pero kailangan nating tumindig, e, kailangan nating lumaban at kumapit sa pag-asa. Sama-sama tayo. Hindi ko kayo pababayaan. Lalaban tayo. (It will not be easy to continue believing that everything would be okay. It will not be easy to continue fighting and to say that we can still go on. But we have to stand firm, we have to fight and continue hoping. We will be together in this fight. I will not let you down.)"

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