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'OCCUPY PANDI'

NHA to issue eviction notice vs. KADAMAY members on March 20


The National Housing Authority (NHA) will serve on March 20 the eviction notice against the members of an urban poor group who occupied idle government housing units in Pandi, Bulacan, GMA News' Maki Pulido reported on "24 Oras" on Tuesday.

Members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) will be forced out of the premises if they fail to abandon the units within seven days upon the receipt of the notice, the report said.

Nonetheless, NHA Resettlement and Development Division manager Elsie Trinidad said KADAMAY members will still be given ample time when the deadline expires to prevent violence.

"As much as possible walang violence," Trinidad said. "Hindi naman agad-agad basta papasukin yung bahay, so may team na kakatok then we will give them one hour to voluntarily vacate."

KADAMAY members are currently occupying several housing units intended for informal settlers and uniformed personnel, the report said.

The government alotted P50 billion in 2010 for the relocation and housing of informal settlers in Metro Manila who live in flood-prone areas or those near rivers and creeks.

Military and police personnel are also beneficiaries of the program, some of whom have already paid for the unit, the report said.

Trinidad said the NHA has been conducting a census since 2010 for families who will have the keys to their new homes.

"Since 2010-'11 we've been conducting the census for families who are poised already to go to these sites," Trinidad said. "After the census, not everybody in the census masterlist will be qualified. They go through another process of screening."

According to data from the NHA, more than 100,000 of the 584,425 informal settlers in Metro Manila live in danger zones. Only about 60,000 housing units, including the sites in Pandi, have been constructed so far for them, the report said.

NHA said it is willing to have KADAMAY as one of their beneficiaries as long as they follow proper procedure.

A lawmaker filed a resolution on Tuesday at the House of Representatives seeking to investigate the "illegal takeover" of KADAMAY at the housing units. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News

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