The Elusive Dream: Decent Housing

On March 8, 2017 the KaDAMAY (Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap) or “Federation for the Aid of the Poor,” an urban poor group, led an occupation of about 5,000 pending housing units in five relocation sites in Bulacan. Members of KaDAMAY vowed to defend their barricades and occupation of these idle government housing sites and units. They appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to heed their call. The same stealthy resurgence of the group had been replicated as about 500 Kadamay members tried to occupy another housing project in Brgy San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal on the dawn of June 14, 2018. However, the said attempt had been successfully thwarted by the active cooperation of the legitimate residents of the village and the proactive response of the PNP and AFP.