Bacolod’s urban poor invade housing project

BY RANIE AZUE and MAE SINGUAY

BACOLOD City – Over a thousand members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap in Negros Island (Kadamay-Negros) stormed a housing project in Barangay Felisa. They wanted the National Housing Authority (NHA) to let them occupy the housing units.

There are 1,498 housing units built on the 10-hectare compound intended for the families of Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel.

But Kadamay-Negros said most of the houses were not occupied or were abandoned.

The militant group marched to the housing project around 8 a.m. yesterday. Members of other cause-oriented groups under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Negros Island backed them up.

A standoff lasted for almost an hour between the militants and responding policemen led by Superintendent Leonardo Borromeo of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

Kadamay-Negros head Perlita Ante and Kilusang Mayo Uno in Negros Island secretary-general Noli Rosales later agreed to have a dialogue with Borromeo.

Borromeo allowed the protesters to enter the housing project provided they won’t occupy any of the housing units. The militants agreed.

Ante and Rosales then demanded to talk to officials of the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA). They said they wanted the BHA to grant their members’ application as beneficiaries of the housing project.

At around noon, a team from the BHA led by Engineer Alejandro Ongsuco arrived at the housing project.

Ongsuco said the BHA cannot grant the Kadamay-Negros’ appeal. He can only forward it to the NHA, he added.

Kadamay-Negros spokesman Ireneo Longinos said they would stay inside the housing compound due to BHA’s failure to act on their request.

“We will not leave. We will wait for the decision of the NHA,” Longinos stressed.

The militants set up tents.

BCPO head Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo ordered tight security measures in the area./PN