Pandi housing project occupation

In early March 2017, thousands of members of the [3][4] group[5][6] Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay, 'Federation of Mutual Aid for the Poor') and other informal settlers occupied an idle housing project of the National Housing Authority (NHA), in Pandi, Bulacan in the Philippines.

Pandi housing project occupation
Part of protests against Rodrigo Duterte
DateMarch 8 — April 4, 2017 (27 days)
Location
Pandi, Bulacan, Philippines
MethodsHouse occupation, picketing, trespassing
Resulted inKadamay members eventually occupied the house as announced by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 4, 2017
Information
DetainedApril 3: 80 (37 person charged of trespassing)[1]
May 1: 1[2]

Background

Of the housing units in the Pandi site, 538 were awarded specifically to Philippine National Police personnel. Utilities such as water and electricity are not yet available in some housing units. As of March 2017, 1,848 out of 9,128 houses were completed by the National Housing Authority (NHA).[7]

Events

On March 8, Kadamay, an urban poor group, led an occupation of about 5,000 pending housing units in five relocation sites in Bulacan. Members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) vowed to defend their barricades and occupation of these idle government housing sites and units. They appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to heed their call.[8] Police reported that about 5,000 individuals reportedly occupied the housing units in Pandi Residences 3, Pandi Village 2 and Padre Pio.[9] The National Housing Authority (NHA) stated that 4,000 housing units in the area occupied.[9] Kadamay said this was to protest against the failure of the Duterte administration and the housing authorities to provide shelter in the area.[10]

On March 13, a group of families, composed of 500-1,000 members, occupied the housing units in Bulacan.[11] Duterte warned that homeless settlers must follow the law or he would be forced to remove them from the site.[12][13] Duterte labelled the occupation by Kadamay as "anarchy".[14] League of Filipino Students (LFS) national spokesperson JP Rosos condemned Duterte for stating what Kadamay did was anarchy.[15]

On March 14, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) told Duterte that the occupation of government housing units was not anarchy.[16] On March 16, the NHA officials processed 160 housing applications from families who occupy the idle units in Pandi.[17]

On March 20, Kadamay members protested the eviction notices against the occupation on idle housing units.[18] Kadamay Chairman Gloria Arellano lambasted the PNP, whom it called "fear-mongers" in response to the occupation.[18] Meanwhile, on March 21, about 15 Kadamay members attempted to enter the housing units in Rodriguez, Rizal but were foiled by the police.[19]

The NHA issued eviction notices, on March 23, to members of Kadamay who occupied the units. However, the urban poor group burned their notices once the NHA personnel left the area.[20] On March 24, about 1,000 Kadamay members gathered again at NHA office to demand their rights over 5,000 idle housing units.[21] ACT Teacher partylist representatives criticized the NHA for the eviction notices they gave to them.[22] Kilusang Mayo Uno, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Makabayan, Gabriela and Anakpawis members teamed up with Kadamay to protest the lack of housing programs for the poor.[21] According to the dialogue between the Kadamay and the NHA on March 27, they came to an agreement that any units left unclaimed after the May 30 deadline would be transferred to the informal settlers.[7]

The NHA announced a plan, on March 27, to expel 20,000 illegal dwellers from 5,262 housing units in Pandi, Bulacan. However, the NHA withdrew the orders after Kadamay agreed to undergo a validation process, which started on April 3, to determine whether the members are eligible, according to Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao.[23]

On April 4, Duterte announced that members of Kadamay may now live in units, as long as they do not oust police officers and soldiers who currently reside there.[24] He also urged the soldiers and police officers to give up their claims to their houses occupied by Kadamay, vowing to build better housing projects by December.[25]

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, on April 6, called the grabbing of houses by the Kadamay members the "front organization of communists."[26] Trillanes warned that the community may be used as a "sanctuary" of communist rebels.[26] On the same day, Duterte accused Kadamay of involvement in "anarchical activities" as he promised to prevent any efforts to occupy other housing projects.[27]

Aftermath

Before May 1, members of Kadamay gathered before the ombudsman, demanding the livelihood so that they can pay their occupied house.[28] On July 25, Duterte threatens to "shoot" them if Kadamay refuse to follow his order not to occupy the houses again. He mentioned that the group have gone rebellion and they ignore laws. Kadamay Chairperson Gloria Arellano lambasted Duterte, saying that the housing programs are not his agenda but only the soldiers, and the majority of making threats.[29] On November 22, Kadamay gathered at NHA headquarters but the police blocked them.[30]

2018

On June, former members of the group claimed that Kadamay leaders have been charging each member some P300 for every rally the group will stage, with the leaders threatening to evict the members from their units if they refused to pay.[31]

On September, former members of the Kadamay group claimed that the organization was being used as a breeding ground of the New People's Army contrary to the perception that it is a pro-poor advocate.[32]

References
  1. Pasion, Patty. "Taguiwalo appeals for release of detained elderly Kadamay members". Rappler.
  2. "Miyembro ng Kadamay, naaktuhang gumagamit ng droga". News5.
  3. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1088009
  4. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/887277/kadamay-a-communist-front-trillanes
  5. Salaverria, Christine O. Avendaño, Leila B. "Kadamay a communist front—Trillanes". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  6. "Kadamay being used by left to create anarchy — Duterte - UNTV News". April 7, 2017.
  7. "PNP concerned with housing rights after Bulacan eviction called off". CNN Philippines.
  8. Umil, Anne Marxze (March 14, 2017). "#OccupyBulacan | Urban poor group vows to continue barricade in gov't housing projects".
  9. "House inquiry into gov't housing takeover sought". Manila Bulletin.
  10. "Urban poor group continues to occupy Bulacan housing projects". UNTV. Yahoo! News.
  11. "Settlers take over sixth housing site in Bulacan". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  12. "Duterte warns illegal occupants of gov't housing units in Bulacan". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  13. "Duterte vows to evict 'Occupy Bulacan' activists to end 'anarchy'". News5.
  14. "A problem of homelessness and anarchy in Bulacan". Manila Bulletin.
  15. "Students slam Duterte's 'anti-poor' statement vs Kadamay settlers". News5.
  16. "Bayan: Occupation of Bulacan house units organized, not an anarchy". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  17. "No talks with settlers as NHA barred from housing sites". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  18. "Kadamay: Eviction is another violation of urban-poor rights". Business Mirror.
  19. "Settlers target more gov't housing sites, move to Rizal". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  20. "Kadamay members barricade street vs NHA personnel". UNTV.
  21. "1,000 Kadamay members want rights in Pandi". The Standard.
  22. "Activist lawmakers blast NHA eviction notice on Bulacan occupiers". News5.
  23. "Where is P50-B shelter fund, Kadamay asks NHA". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  24. "Duterte lets Kadamay have Bulacan homes". ABS-CBN News.
  25. "Group targets 4,000 more gov't houses for takeover". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  26. "Kadamay a communist front—Trillanes". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  27. "Duterte says Kadamay being used for 'anarchical' activities". The Philippine Star.
  28. "Kadamay, nag-rally sa ombudsman bago ang Labor day". News5.
  29. "SANAY NANG TINATAKOT - Grupong Kadamay, hindi raw matitinag sa banta ni Pres. Duterte". News5. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link) from the original.
  30. "TV Patrol: Protesta sa NHA" – via www.youtube.com.
  31. "P300 fee per rally? Some Kadamay members leave group over alleged extortion". ABS-CBN News. June 16, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  32. Chavez, Chito (September 24, 2018). "Kadamay, a breeding ground for NPAs – former insiders". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
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