By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) recently held a protest rally in Bacolod City, demanding the bill proposing the creation of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) be scrapped.

In a statement made by the group, they claimed the DHSUD was formed in order to hasten the demolition of settlements in order to make way for the government’s “Build, Build, Build” project.

According to the group, the project will only benefit “capitalists,” while those living in poverty would be “thrown away like garbage.”

They also claimed the DHSUD will raise rental fees in relocation sites every two years.

Kadamay pointed out, those living in poverty need a strong solution for their housing problems, pointing out, thousands of government-made housing units remain vacant.

They also demanded the implementation of Senate Resolution No. 8, which seeks to award housing units to qualified beneficiaries, in order to resolve the homelessness problem.

Aside from DHSUD, the group also expressed their opposition to “Charter Change,” the ongoing Martial Law implementation in Mindanao, and the Philippine National Police “Oplan: Tokhang.”/DGB, WDJ