Kadamay defends invasion of Rizal housing; NHA says group ignored procedures

Urban poor group Kadamay on Thursday defended their invasion of a housing project in San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal as part of their initiative to protect homes allegedly promised to them by the government.

Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national chairman, said in an interview on Bobol B sa News TV that they were forced to do a "bantayang bahay" protest after supposed beneficiaries from their group were passed over for other candidates.

"Hindi naman po inilalabas 'yung mga [qualified]. Ang nababalitaan ng homeless diyan, halos may pinapapasok na tao diyan ng LGU (local government unit) at barangay," she said.

"Ibig sabihin ho, ang hindi piniprioritize yung taga-Montalban mismo na nag-aaply na doon dahil sila nga po yung homeless nga po, yung mga renter, sharer," Arellano said.

Arellano insisted that they were not occupying the houses; rather, they were blocking access to the houses to ensure that none of the families placed there by the local government can move in.

"Nasa proseso din naman 'yung mga papers sa NHA (National Housing Authority) at saka nakikipag-dialogue naman po," said the chairman, who added that they were merely pushing the government to expedite their procedure.

NHA Resettlement and Development Services Manager Elsie Trinidad said they have expedited the process of awarding Kadamay members housing through Joint Resolution 2.

Joint Resolution 2, signed on May 9, allowed the NHA to award housing units that are unoccupied by personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

"Hindi po ganun kadali dahil kinailangan ng batas, kaya naging Joint Resolution 2, dahil hindi pwedeng basta na lang i-award sa Kadamay, sa iba pang sibilyan, 'yung mga AFP-PNP housing units dahil restricted yung pondong ginamit doon," Trinidad said in a separate interview.

She later added that they are working on the implementing rules and regulations of Joint Resolution 2 — which will not exclusively cater to Kadamay members — while processing paperwork of qualified beneficiaries.

"Baka 'yun rin po ang naka-trigger kasi approved na 'yung Joint Resolution No. 2, hindi ibig sabihin na pag nag-okupa ka na at ikaw na ang nandun, ay otomatikong ikaw na 'yun ang magmamay-ari sa bahay na yun. Ito ay dadaan pa sa proseso," Trinidad explained.

Trinidad said their legal department is assessing whether Kadamay's "bantayang bahay" could be considered illegal. —KBK, GMA News