Don't blame poor for flood

Philippines - The Philippines' Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales has defended the poor urban families living along the waterways saying that those who live in squatter communities are often tradespeople, market vendors, janitors, housekeepers bus drivers and even teachers and policemen who can't afford other housing. Rosales condemned high real estate prices that are “far beyond the reach of our poor and many of the middle class.” The proliferation of squatter communities in Manila has been blamed for floods resulting from storm "Ondoy" which killed hundreds and drove thousands to shelters. 

Cardinal Rosales said the government can't, “simply order people off the waterways,” but needs to restructure the urban land use policy “so that the poor may have the possibility to have security of tenure in our cities where their livelihood is found.”