CABINET Secretary Leoncio Evasco on Monday said there would be no forced eviction for now for Kadamay members who illegally occupied housing units in Pandi, Bulacan.
In a radio interview, Evasco said he would raise the concerns over the housing industry’s bottlenecks before the Cabinet to ensure the ongoing stand-off would not be repeated.
“There won’t be any forced eviction [for the illegal settlers] for now,” Evasco told radio dzMM.
Evasco said the police would be forced to take drastic measures only when the other methods have been exhausted.
“They are trying to make us evict them with violence, but we will not do that,” he added.
Evasco said he had tasked National Anti Poverty Commission lead convenor Liza Maza to have a dialogue with Kadamay to resolve issue.
“Housing units in Pandi already have waiting occupants,” he said in Filipino.
In a separate press briefing, Evasco said he would issue a memorandum on creating a composite team to monitor and follow up on issues raised by the housing industry.
“This composite team will follow up all the issues and concerns tackled during the summit,” Evasco said in Davao City Sunday.
Also on Monday, the National Housing Authority on Monday gave assurances the 2018 national budget would include funds for the construction of houses for thousands of “walk-in” applicants in dire need of housing.
Around 49,000 walk-in applicants for housing units not covered by their regular, annually-funded projects were requesting for shelters from the government, the NHA spokesperson said.
On Sunday, the National Housing Authority said it would be serving an eviction notice to some 5,000 members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) who have illegally occupied government housing units in Bulacan intended for families of military and other uniformed personnel.