Violence broke out Thursday when residents in a squatters area fought a demolition team in Quezon City, a radio report said. The residents threw stones at the demolition team which also retaliated, said Radio dzBB, adding that rush-hour traffic in the area was snarled due to the confrontation. The demolition team and their police escorts fought back and overcame the resistance from residents of San Roque II village at the North Triangle area. Wednesday night, residents at the North Triangle area held a vigil and planned their resistance to the QC Central Business District (CBD) project. Urban poor group Kadamay opposed the 340-hectare project, saying it will displace some 6,000 families. The P22-billion project is a joint venture between Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and the National Housing Authority to develop 29.1 hectares of North Triangle for a central business and commercial district. Last Sept. 15, the National Housing Authority, which owns the North Triangle property including Sitio San Roque, issued a seven-day notice of demolition for the community. While relocation at a housing site in Rizal province was offered, residents have refused to move, citing difficult living conditions, high transportation costs and lack of amenities, such as electricity and water, in the proposed new site.
