Kadamay does it again, storm Rizal housing
RODRIGUEZ, Rizal: Tension broke early on Wednesday when more than 200 members of the informal settlers’ and urban poor group Kadamay attempted to occupy vacant housing units allocated for members of the military and police in a government socialized housing project in Barangay San Isidro in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Local police and civil disturbance units (CDUs), led by the town chief of police Supt. Pablito Naganag, immediately secured the area and defused tension between the aggressive Kadamay members and Barangay San Isidro and homeowners association officials.
As local police force and barangay (village) officials pacified the parties, they also coordinated with the homeowners in prodding Kadamay members who “invaded” the unoccupied housing units to vacate the houses, since these units had been awarded to the rightful housing beneficiaries.
FOR THEIR SECURITY A resident builds a barricade outside their home in Rodriguez, Rizal, in preparation for the occupation of the group Kadamay on Wednesday. PHOTO BY DJ DIOSINA
Rodriguez Police chief Pablito Naganag said the protesters arrived on jeepneys while others crossed the river to reach the site.
The protesters circled the compound and carried a copy of Joint Resolution 2 supposedly signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on June 9, and urged National Housing Authority (NHA) chief Christopher Guevarra to reward them the houses.
They also went to the town hall to protest and hold a dialogue with the mayor.
“The distribution of houses follows a process, with the NHA in charge. But that area is fully booked,” Naganag said.
Homeowners explained that they were among the early beneficiary occupants of some 700 socialized housing units, while other rightful owners were expected to settle in as soon as documents and the proper turnover procedures were completed.
They denounced the forcible occupation of the vacant units by the aggressive Kadamay members without the necessary documents pursuant to socialized housing occupancy guidelines.
The homeowners’ association members explained that housing unit awardees like them must comply with the process on documentary requirements and payment terms and could not just barge into a vacant unit and claim it.
NHA community relations division representative Chris Guevarra, who was on site, said all the housing units had been awarded to qualified beneficiaries and belied claims by the Kadamay members that these were still available to them.
Gloria Arellano, chairman of the Kadamay group, said in a media interview that some members had applied for housing units through the Rodriguez local government unit and the NHA.
“We are holding a rally to force them to act on our requests,” Arellano said.
The Kadamay members who had barricaded the San Isidro housing site were those who applied for relocation based on a supposed Palace resolution to be signed by the President to provide affordable housing units to the poor, she said.
PNA AND ATHENA LUCASAN
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