THE City Government of Bacolod urged the leaders and members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) in Negros to follow their commitment not to occupy the housing units for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Barangay Felisa without a due process.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who was in the area when almost 1,600 members of Kadamay Negros trooped to the housing project in Barangay Felisa on Thursday, said the City Council had earlier approved a resolution, which was authored by Councilor Renecito Novero, addressed to National Housing Authority (NHA) to consider them as a beneficiaries if the uniformed personnel failed to avail the project.
He said the housing project for the uniformed personnel was launched six years ago and presently, only eight personnel occupied their units in the area.
Novero, chairperson of the City Council committee on urban poor, housing and resettlement, said the Kadamay Negros recently agreed that they will not follow the incident that happened in Pandi, Bulacan, where the members of the Kadamay forcibly occupied the housing project of the NHA.
"We were surprised that they trooped to the housing project in Barangay Felisa and attempted to occupy it," he said.
Novero noted that three months ago, he held a public hearing with the members and leaders of Kadamay Negros along with the personnel of NHA, Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) and City Legal Office (CLO) and discussed the nature of the housing program in Barangay Felisa for the uniformed personnel here.
Novero said the group asked them if they could endorse their request to the national government to consider them as a beneficiary.
"We approved a resolution endorsing their request to the office of President Rodrigo Duterte, House of Representatives and NHA, but it does not give them any authority to go to into the premises and occupy without any due process. They cannot use our resolution because our resolution did not give them an authority to do that, we have no jurisdiction in the project," he said.
The housing project, consisting of 1,498 units, is not for free and it is already awarded to the uniformed personnel.
"The uniformed personnel will pay for it and they are only waiting for the complete installation of the facilities and issuance of occupancy permit so they can occupy the unit," Novero said.
He said the group should read their documents and if they need any assistance, the city government will assist and explain it for them.
"Do not take things that are not ours, let's respect the rights of others so that we will be respected too," Novero added.
Novero noted that the City Government has a housing and resettlement programs for the families, who were ejected through court order or those who are living in danger zone, then relocated to the Progreso Village in Barangay Vista Alegre.
Councilor Dindo Ramos said the group has the right to express their sentiments, but they should not violate the law.
He said the group claimed that they are homeless, but it still subject for verification from the NHA to prove their claims because there's a due process.
He added the personnel of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) were also deployed to assist the children in the area.
Ramos noted that some of the members of Kadamay claimed that the personnel of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) stopped them from bringing food and drinks inside the housing project.
Ramos said that he will relay the sentiments of the group to Mayor Evelip Leonardia to allow them to picket in the area so they will be heard by the national government agency.
"The policemen should not harass them because they are also doing it peacefully and promised that they will not occupy the units," he said.
Ramos added the group declared that they will stay in the area until the time the NHA will hold a conference with them on September 7.
