Free Mass Housing Urged By Informal Settlers In Bulacan
The group of informal settlers who occupied the government houses in Bulacan was urging President Duterte to give them a free mass housing.
On Tuesday (March 14, 2017), Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) members went to Malacañang to protest the slow process of housing distributions to the urban poor groups. They also said that the National Housing Authority (NHA) took so long before exerting efforts to address the people’s shelter needs.
Villa Louise in Barangay Cacarong Matanda, Padre Pio in Barangay Cacarong Bata, Villa Elise in Barangay Masuso, and Pandi Residence 2 in Barangay Mapulang Lupa in Pandi town in Bulacan were forcibly occupied by the homeless people.
Informal settlers have also occupied the government houses in San Jose Height in City of San Jose del Monte. Also, another 500 homeless families take over the houses in private housing project developed by Atlantica Realty in Barangay Mapulang Lupa.
The homeless families also said that some of their children obtain diseases since they occupied that unfinished houses with no water, electricity, and roofs on March 08, 2017. The sick children were immediately brought to the local health centers for treatment and medication.
The provincial board’s committees on social services, land use, and urban development were asked by Bulacan Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando to look and consider for the takeover of the housing projects in the province.
The possibility of manipulating the informal settlers was wanted to know by the provincial government, according to Board Member Therese Cheryll Ople.
National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) lead convener Liza Mapa visited the informal settlers last March 10, 2017. NAPC members also visited the settlers on Tuesday (March 14, 2017).
“The poor deserve free mass housing as a right and as the engine of our society,” said by Kadamay secretary-general Carlito Badion quoted by Inquirer.