Militants try to occupy Rizal housing project

MANILA, Philippines - Around 200 members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) attempted to take over another housing project even as the National Housing Authority (NHA) continued to serve eviction notices to those who occupied vacant units in Bulacan yesterday.

The militants stormed a housing project for policemen in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriquez, Rizal at around 7 a.m., said Senior Superintendent Randy Peralta, Rizal police director.

Peralta said the group dispersed after a dialogue with NHA, police and local officials before noon.

The Provincial Public Safety Co. was tasked to secure government housing projects in Baras and Tanay following the incident.

 “We are monitoring the situation. We call on the developers to expect a similar activity,” Peralta said. 

In Bulacan, policemen escorted NHA personnel who served eviction notices to those who occupied the Villa Ellise Resettlement Project in Barangay Masuso in Pandi on Monday.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat Jr., provincial police acting director, said the NHA served 324 eviction notices as of yesterday.

Caramat said the notices were posted in front of the housing units if the occupants were not around or refused to receive it.

He said Kadamay occupied 5,107 units in six housing projects in Pandi since March 8. 

Kadamay also held a rally in front of the NHA office in Quezon City yesterday to protest the eviction orders.

“The NHA is good only at… evicting urban poor Filipinos…The issue is not just about acquiring shelter, but asserting that housing should be...treated as a social service and basic right not just on paper,” said Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national chairperson.