After a decade of resistance to home evictions and demolitions, the Philippine community of San Roque has kept up its barriers against authorities and corporate developers. Residents have also added alternative housing plans to their defensive strategy, but will they hold?
Author Archives: Michael Beltran
Michael Beltran is a freelance journalist from the Philippines.
Posted inFeature
Red-Tagging the Philippines’ Young Activists
The Duterte administration has accused youth activists and organisations of brainwashing and turning young Filipinos into armed insurgents. But human rights defenders and activist groups say this narrative is just a ploy to justify a wider crackdown on dissent.
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The Towns the Homeless Built
In 2017, thousands of homeless, urban poor took over empty homes in Pandi, in the Philippine province of Bulacan. They have since built their own community there, making decisions as a collective and keeping up the occupation despite threats and intimidation.
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The Winners and Losers of Duterte’s BBB Programme
The Duterte administration’s “Build Build Build” programme is meant to bring infrastructure development to the Philippines. But critics warn against falling into a “debt trap”, and that the true cost of the scheme might be paid by the country’s poorest citizens.
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