Informal Settlers Forcibly Occupied Vacant Gov’t Housing Projects In Bulacan

Vacant Gov’t Housing Projects In Bulacan forcibly Occupied By Informal Settlers

Around 5, 000 informal settlers from Metro Manila and Bulacan province have occupied more than 4, 000 government housing projects.

Vacant government houses in Pandi two and City of San Jose Del Monte were occupied by around 5, 000 people from different places in Bulacan and Metro Manila, including the members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay).

The vacant houses were already allocated as the new relocation site of residents from Metro Manila. The informal settlers forcibly take over the houses and claims that they were of being neglected by the Philippine government.

Kadamay President Elizabeth Aguirre said that they are willing to pay for affordable housing projects from the government, but despite the official’s promises, they were still not able to have their own homes.

Elizabeth Joseph, Bulacan project manager at National Housing Authority (NHA) said that the homeless people occupied the houses at Villa Elise in Brgy. Mapuso, Pandi Village 2 in Brgy. Mapulang Lupa, San Jose Heights in San Jose del Monte City, and Villa Louise in Brgy. Cacarong Bata all in Pandi.

Villa Elise was built supposedly for the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. Informal settlers had not been yet ordered to vacate the houses, but policemen have been deployed in those areas.

Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado met with Joseph and discussed the possible ways to resolve the problem. Alvarado said that housing program for homeless residents of Bulacan was currently planning the provincial government.

Former NHA North and Central Luzon manager, Felicisimo Lazarte said that the houses were not allocated for NHA beneficiaries, instead, it will be given to informal settlers who will be removed from creeks in Metro Manila.

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