Jumping the queue

After their successful caper in a government housing project for soldiers in Pandi, Bulacan, it’s no surprise that members of the urban poor group Kadamay tried a similar stunt the other day in Rodriguez, Rizal.

Unlike the military housing units in Bulacan that were still vacant during the takeover, however, several of the houses in Rizal were already occupied by their intended beneficiaries from the military and police. The Kadamay takeover was foiled and charges of trespassing are reportedly being considered.

If the government wants to prevent similar takeovers of taxpayerfunded state housing, it should go ahead and file the charges. There are millions of Filipinos who need decent housing, including military and police personnel as well as other government workers. What gives Kadamay members the right to grab whatever they want?

Studies have shown that there are members of the Philippine National Police who live below the poverty line and cannot afford decent shelter. The government has subsidized housing programs for them as well as several other sectors notably the extremely poor. There is an application process for such tax-funded programs, however, with beneficiaries required to meet certain basic criteria. The process is meant precisely to prevent the kind of anarchy being fomented by Kadamay and its allied organizations.

Instead of imposing sanctions on those who invaded the housing project in Pandi, however, an administration that bows to troublemakers’ use of force even rewarded Kadamay with the housing units that they illegally occupied. This time in Rizal, Malacañang has announced that Kadamay would not get what it had seized.

With an acute housing backlog nationwide and limited resources to meet the demand, the government cannot afford to be imprudent in the distribution of available units. There is a long queue for such dwellings, and those waiting in line include the most impoverished Filipinos. Kadamay members have no right to jump the line. The government must deal decisively with this anarchy.