NHA eyes housing program for urban poor after KADAMAY takeover

The National Housing Authority (NHA) is eyeing an exclusive housing program for the urban poor occupying the idle government housing units in Pandi, Bulacan, as long as they abandon the houses to give way to its rightful occupants.

In an interview on QRT on Tuesday, NHA spokesperson Elsie Trinidad said NHA personnel will go to the housing sites from March 15 to 20 for a community meeting and give out housing information forms to members of the urban poor group KADAMAY and invite them to undergo due process to qualify as beneficiaries.

"Kung ano binibigay namin sa libu-libong pumipila sa NHA, ganoon din po yung ibibigay namin sa kanila. At meron pa pong dagdag na commitment na pag nabuo na itong grupo na 'to, ang tawag natin sa kanila walk-in applicants kasi hindi sila kasama sa regular funded projects," she said.

"Bubuo tayo ng housing program exclusively for them para maidulog na natin ang budget at in the next year maaari na natin simulan yung pabahay para sa mga walk-in applicants," she added.

Trinidad said the NHA is resorting through all legal means to evacuate the housing units in time for the occupancy of its true beneficiaries, which are informal settlers in Metro Manila who reside in flood-prone areas and low-salary uniformed personnel.

"Ito na po yung io-offer natin sa mga KADAMAY representatives kasi mahirap nang pigilan yung paglipat ng mga nakatakdang ililikas mula sa danger areas," Trinidad said.

"Nakikiusap kami na isaalalang din yung karapatan ng mga lilipat doon. Ito yung mga housing program sa mga danger area families. Ilabas na lang po natin yung usapan para sa mga kawal, sa mga low-salary personnel... sa katunayan may ibang fully paid na daw po sa mga houses ng mga uniformed personnel," she added.

Some 1,000 KADAMAY members have been staying at 419 housing units in Pandi Residences 3. 

The police have also reported that around 5,000 individuals are currently occupying housing units in six different sites: PNP/AFP Housing, BJMP/BFP Housing, Villa Elise, Pandi Residences 3, Pandi Village 2, and Padre Pio.

Trinidad said many homeowners, especially those who underwent due process, are concerned about the occupancy of KADAMAY in Pandi.

She also mentioned that several urban poor groups similar to KADAMAY join the more than 49,000 applicants who aspire to benefit from the NHA's housing program.

"49,000 yung nag-aantay din ng pabahay na katulad ng estado ng mga KADAMAY representatives, at yung iba nga po ay nagtatanong ang bilis naman ng proseso kung ganoon, lalo yung mga dinatnan na lehitimong homeowners association dun na inaabangan din kung ano ang responde ng NHA kasi sila ay dumaan sa mahabang proseso," Trinidad said.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would order the eviction of KADAMAY members if they couldn't be convinced to leave through peaceful means. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News