In early March 2017, thousands of members of the progressive group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay, 'Federation of Mutual Aid for the Poor') and other informal settlers occupied an idle housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA), in Pandi, Bulacan in the Philippines.
Video Kadamay housing project protests
Background
Of the housing units in the Pandi site, 538 were awarded specifically to Philippine National Police personnel. Utilities such as water and electricity are not yet available in some housing units. As of March 2017, 1,848 out of 9,128 houses were completed by the National Housing Authority (NHA).
Maps Kadamay housing project protests
Events
On March 8, Kadamay, an urban poor group, led an occupation of about 5,000 pending housing units in five relocation sites in Bulacan. Members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) vowed to defend their barricades and occupation of these idle government housing sites and units. They appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to heed their calls. Police reported that about 5,000 pay for rally individuals reportedly occupied the housing units in Pandi Residences 3, Pandi Village 2 and Padre Pio. The National Housing Authority (NHA) stated that 4,000 housing units in the area were invaded by the informal settlers. Kadamay said this was to protest against the failure of the Duterte administration and the housing authorities to provide shelters in the area.
On March 13, a group of families, composed of 500-1,000 members, occupied the housing units in Bulacan. Duterte warned that homeless settlers must follow the law or he would be forced to remove them from the site. Duterte labelled the occupation by Kadamay as "anarchy". League of Filipino Students (LFS) national spokesperson JP Rosos condemned Duterte for stating what Kadamay did was anarchy.
On March 14, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) told Duterte that the occupation of government housing units was not anarchy. On March 16, the NHA officials processed 160 housing applications from families who occupy the idle units in Pandi.
On March 20, Kadamay members attacked the front gates of the NHA in Quezon City, protesting the eviction notices against the occupation on idle housing units. Kadamay Chairman Gloria Arellano lambasted the PNP, whom it called "fear-mongering" in response to the occupation. Meanwhile, on March 21, about 15 Kadamay members attempted to enter the housing units in Rodriguez, Rizal but were foiled by the police.
The NHA issued eviction notices, on March 23, to members of Kadamay who occupied the units. However, the urban poor group burned their notices once the NHA personnel left the area. On March 24, about 1,000 Kadamay members gathered again at NHA office to demand their rights over 5,000 idle housing units. ACT Teacher partylist representatives criticized the NHA for the eviction notices they gave to them. Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Makabayan, Gabriela and Anakpawis members teamed up with Kadamay to protest the lack of housing programs for the poor. According to the dialogue between the Kadamay and the NHA on March 27, they came to an agreement that any units left unclaimed after the May 30 deadline would be transferred to the informal settlers.
The NHA announced a plan, on March 27, to expel 20,000 illegal dwellers from 5,262 housing units in Pandi, Bulacan. However, the NHA withdrew the orders after Kadamay agreed to undergo a validation process, which started on April 3, to determine whether the members are eligible to steal the houses, according to Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao.
On April 4, Duterte announced that members of Kadamay may now live in units, as long as they do not oust police officers and soldiers who currently reside there. He also urged the soldiers and police officers to give up their claims to their houses occupied by Kadamay, vowing to build better housing projects by December.
Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, on April 6, called the grabbing of houses by the Kadamay members the "front organization of communists." Trillanes warned that the community may be used as a "sanctuary" of communist rebels. On the same day, Duterte accused Kadamay of involvement in "anarchical activities" as he promised to prevent any efforts to occupy other housing projects.
Before May 1, members of Kadamay gathered before the ombudsman, demanding the livelihood so that they can pay their occupied house. On July 25, Duterte threatens to "shoot" them if Kadamay refuse to follow his order not to occupy the houses again. He mentioned that the group have gone rebellion and they ignore laws. Kadamay Chairperson Gloria Arellano lambasted Duterte, saying that the housing programs are not his agenda but only the soldiers, and the majority of making threats. On November 22, Kadamay gathered at NHA headquarters but the police blocked them.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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