Anakbayan: “Anomalous” MRT-7 project to evict peasant, urban poor communities

Anakbayan: “Anomalous” MRT-7 project to evict peasant, urban poor communities

Anakbayan called on the government to stop the MRT-7 project, saying it will cause massive displacement of urban poor and peasant communities.

The youth group today joined the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Anakpawis in a protest against MRT-7. It is part of a series of rallies by peasant groups for genuine land reform.

“The MRT-7 will evict many urban poor families along the areas where the project will be built. This will be most disastrous to poor families and is anathema to the ‘development’ gov’t says the project is to bring,” Anakbayan Chair Vencer Crisostomo said.

The Metro Rail Transit Line 7 will link LRT-1 with MRT-3 and will run from San Jose Del Monte Bulacan through Caloocan and Philcoa to North Avenue in EDSA.

Crisostomo said the project will benefit Aquino “cronies” Danding Cojuangco and the Araneta clan.

“This is a KKK project. Through the PPP, the taxpayers shoulder government debts and the returns of the corporation,” Crisostomo said.

San Miguel Corporation, owned by Danding Cojuangco, has acquired the said project, which will be built in the land owned by the Araneta clan. Peasant groups previously assailed Aranetas for “land-grabbing” in order to build and profit from the MRT-7.

“The project should immediately be halted and investigated. There is clear anomaly here and the peasants and the poor are the ones set to suffer,” he added.