600 houses occupied by Kadamay put up for rent

MANILA, Philippines — Members of  the militant Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) have put up for rent at least 600 housing units that they occupied in a government project in Bulacan.

In a press briefing on Monday, John Christopher Mahamud, National Housing Authority (NHA) chief of staff, said they have validated such reports as well as the application for housing units in another government project of 71 Kadamay members.

The NHA said only around 5,000 out of over 8,000 families that occupied government housing projects in Bulacan are eligible to own units.

Among Kadamay members, only 29 percent have submitted complete documents, the  NHA said.

Mahamud said the reported sale of a housing unit in Pandi  town by a member of Kadamay was not an isolated case.

He said they are saddened by the move of some Kadamay members, noting that the NHA has been in talks with the group since it occupied housing projects intended for police and military personnel as well as informal settlers along waterways.

Mahamud said any illegal transaction would be nullified. He said anyone caught selling units would be barred from applying for any government housing project for 10 years. 

The NHA said Kadamay members who are not eligible would have to vacate the units that they occupied to give way to informal settlers from Manila.

Kadamay has repeatedly denied allegations that its members are selling their units.

Kadamay national chairperson Gloria Arellano said they would not vacate the housing units they occupied in Pandi.

“They did not attempt to evict us before...because it would have badly reflected on the administration and exposed the shortcomings of the government...Suddenly they announced they want us to vacate the occupied areas,” Arellano said.