MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is saddened by reports that some of the houses awarded to the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) are being sold or put up for rent.
”They should not be making money out of the houses given to them,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a press briefing in Baguio City yesterday.
Roque said President Duterte allowed Kadamay members to stay in the houses that were built for soldiers and policemen “because everyone has the right to own houses.”
”If reports are verified that they are not really staying in the houses they occupied, we will have to study our options,” Roque said.
‘Old issue’
Kadamay denied the allegations, which it dismissed as an old issue.
The allegations were meant to discredit Kadamay, Lea Maralit, the coordinator of the group in Bulacan, told The STAR.
Maralit said the sale or lease of housing units is a problem that the National Housing Authority (NHA) has faced in all government projects but has failed to address.
A video obtained by the NHA supposedly showed a member of Kadamay while trying to sell a unit in Barangay Bata, Pandi.
Maralit clarified that the unit being sold by a member of Kadamay in the video is not among those awarded to their group, but in another housing project.
She said their members are aware that beneficiaries of government housing units are barred from pawning, selling or renting out the units awarded to them.