BACOLOD CITY – Around 1,000 informal settlers tried to occupy a housing project intended for soldiers and police officers in Barangay Felisa in this city yesterday.
Led by the militant Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), the informal settlers brought some of their personal belongings and their children. They said they would leave only if officials of the National Housing Authority (NHA) would meet with them.
The P162-million housing project, lies on a 10-hectare lot. Kadamay said only eight units have so far been occupied.
Ireneo Longinos, Kadamay secretary-general, claimed a joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives which President Duterte signed, authorized the NHA to award unoccupied housing units to qualified beneficiaries.
Longinos said the NHA did not update them on the status of their petition to move into idle housing units.
“This housing project has not been used since six years ago... It should be given to qualified beneficiaries,” he said.
In an interview over Radyo Bombo, Alejandro Ongsuco, NHA-Bacolod head, said he was surprised by Kadamay’s move, noting that the NHA set a meeting with Kadamay leaders, representatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines next month.
Ongsuco said the housing units that Kadamay is targeting have been awarded to uniformed personnel. He said many units remain unoccupied due to lack of electricity.
The Bacolod police deployed its Civil Disturbance Management unit as well as Station 7 and 10 personnel to maintain peace and order in the area.
The President said he would not allow another takeover of housing units by Kadamay.
Some 6,000 families were awarded housing units in Pandi, Bulacan, which they occupied in March last year.