By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
MANILA, Philippines—Residents of Artex Compound in Malabon have lived along chest-deep flood waters, which never subsided in the past 14 years. They are ferried by rowers of makeshift boats whenever they leave their houses on stilts.
ROWER -- Loida Lumagas paddles along the flood onboard a makeshift boat to bring residents who live in houses on stilts at Artex Compound. They have to cross the chest-deep water, which never receded in the past 14 years. (JOSEPH ALMER PEDRAJAS / MANILA BULLETIN)
Fifty-seven-year-old resident Loida Lumagas told the Manila Bulletin that the flood started in 2005. After several public works were done in the nearby areas, the 8.5-hectare compound remained undeveloped. It became the lowest lying land and eventually turned into a catch basin.
Since then, their problems no longer stop. Aside from their area becoming a swamp, they have also had no direct access to clean and potable water nor have proper solid waste management.
Now, around 175 families go to dry land everyday to fill their water containers because they only depend on one 'barangay faucet.' Lumagas said, it is their only source of clean water. They also buy their drinking water at refilling stations because the water is not safe to drink.
Meantime, many residents, who do not have decent comfort rooms, use plastics or papers where they put their body wastes. They then throw them anywhere, Lumagas added.
Although a fire razed a big part of the compound in 2013, they still chose to rebuild their houses at Artex. For Lumagas, staying there is their only choice.
“‘Yung asawa ko, pedicab driver lang. Hindi sapat ang kita. Paano kami makakaipon ng pangbayad sa upa?” she asked.
The Water World of Artex
Lumagas said Artex Compound was a housing site for workers like her of a textile company.
But in 1984, they went on strike. She said, workers were underpaid. She added that the P37 they received per day was not enough at the time P118 was the minimum daily wage.
The management reportedly explained that the workers' low wages were compensated because they had free housing. But Lumagas said, they were paying P18.50 per week for the rent.
The residents had put the compound on lockdown for several months. Lumagas said, it was the biggest workers' protest held during that time. One day, around seven buses carrying students-activists reportedly trooped to Artex to support them. The strike then became violent as armed members of the military allegedly opened fire. At least 82 protesters were wounded, Lumagas said.
After the strike, workers started to receive P44 daily wage. However, it was not yet enough, she added.
In 1989, the textile company left the compound after it ceased operations for two reasons. One was the labor issue, while the other was the worsening flood in the city. When a wall separating the compound and a nearby fishpond collapsed, many of the machines were damaged by the water from the pond.
Since then, workers have not yet received their back pay and separation pay, Lumagas said.
Flood problem
Flood usually came at Artex whenever it rained. But it used to ebb, Lumagas said. Until in 2005, when highways were elevated and the fishpond turned into a reclamation site, Artex became the lowest lying land.
She said, she and other members of Pagkakaisa ng mga Naninirahan sa Artex Compound (PANAC) have long been trying to seek help from the local government, but their request to attend to their problems are always neglected.
Lumagas said that she believed that the compound was already bid and sold without their consent. No matter how hard they tried to convince the local government to just sell it to them at lower price, it never happened, she added.
Because Artex was believed to be a private lot, Lumagas said, it barely receives help from authorities. Residents have been trying to manage their own wastes by themselves, but they have not yet rid them. Trashes still float along the waters. Several snakes are also seen swimming.
Fortunately, they barely get sick from the trash nor bitten by the snakes. She believed, residents might already be used to it. They have also learned to adapt.
The possible onset of rainy season next week might bring heavy downpour and flood. But it no longer bothers those who live in the water world of Artex. Lumagas said, they are prepared. They are ready to pack their goods and belongings.
As much as time has tested them, Lumagas still fears that the chest-deep flood might worsen should a strong wind and typhoon hit. The wooden houses at Artex might collapse. People could also drown.
But she said it would not happen, only if the problem of chest-deep flood waters, which have never subsided for more than a decade, will be addressed.