By: Pathricia Ann V. Roxas - Reporter / @PathRoxasINQ INQUIRER.net / 07:39 PM June 14, 2018

The National Housing Authority (NHA) should work double time in awarding the idle housing units of uniformed personnel to poor families, Negros Occidental 3rd District Rep. Albee Benitez said Thursday.

Benitez, chair of the House committee on housing and urban development, said this is mandated by Congressional Joint Resolution No. 2 which President Rodrigo Duterte had signed.

The legislative measure was triggered by the occupation of urban poor families of unoccupied and deteriorating housing units located in Pandi town, Bulacan, in May last year.

“We recognize the need and growing desperation among urban poor for adequate housing. However, we put prime in the rule of law and the institutional process to address social issues,” Benitez said, stressing that desperation should not lead to anarchy.

“Pursuant to this measure, NHA should work double time to institute mechanisms for informal settler families, including Kadamay members, to avail low-cost housing formerly under the PNP/AFP housing program,” he also said.

On Wednesday, around 700 urban poor activists under the Montalban Homeless Alliance (MHA), affiliated with the Kadamay urban poor group, occupied housing units in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal. These housing units for police and military were reportedly idle for five years.

But President Duterte has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to prevent members of the militant urban poor group Kadamay from occupying the said housing units. /je