NHA defers eviction of Kadamay members from Pandi housing units

The National Housing Authority (NHA) on Monday agreed not to push through with its eviction of Kadamay members who illegally occupied vacant government housing units in Pandi, Bulacan, GMA News' Rida Reyes reported on "24 Oras."

The report said the NHA arrived at the decision after meeting with representatives from Kadamay, an urban poor group.

"They will be further profiled into sino ba yung may immediate need. Not necessarily sabay-sabay yun. So after we have this complete picture — kasi talagang mahalaga yung data — then we will talk again," said NHA spokesperson Elsie Trinidad.

The deadline for Kadamay members to voluntarily leave the housing units or face eviction ended on Monday.

Kadamay members have been illegally occupying some 5,000 housing units in seven housing areas in Bulacan since March 8, the report said.

If ever Kadamay members become legitimate beneficiaries of the housing program, the NHA is studying the possibility of giving them the over 2,000 housing units reserved for police and military personnel who have no intention of availing them.

"Hahanapan ka ng puwedeng i-dispose sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) at PNP (Philippine National Police) housing. They will undergo na yung mga eligibility screening," Trinidad said.

Kadamay members, meanwhile, insisted that they are legitimate beneficiaries of the government housing program.

"Nandun na nga sila. Ibig sabihin wala pa naman yung ibang mga ililipat dun. Dapat i-priority na ho nila yung mga nandun nang mahihirap dahil pare-pareho naman hong mahirap yan," said Gloria "Ka Bea" Arellano, Kadamay's national chairperson.

In a statement, Arrelano desribed the postponement of the eviction as their "initial victory."

"This initial victory has come from the bravery and strength of the urban poor Filipinos who have been holding their ground for nearly a month," she said.

"Kung hindi dahil sa pag-occupy ng mga maralita, hindi mabubuksan ang usapin ng matinding krisis sa pabahay," Arellano added. "Hindi rin mapipilitan ang gobyerno na harapin ang sarili niyang mga kakulangan."

The group also appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to mediate in the issue as well as resolve the housing crisis in the country.

"Malaki ang papel ng pangulo sa paglutas niyan (housing crisis), kasi siya ang gagawa ng policy. So siguro sa birthday niya o pagkatapos ng birthday niya [ay] magkaroon siya ng oras na kausapin yung mga miyembro ng Kadamay," said Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. —KBK, GMA News