An urban poor group on Tuesday, August 8 flocked in front of the National Housing Authority (NHA) building in Quezon City to raise significant issues and to protest against the agency's charter extension.
Members of the Urban Poor Action Committee (UPAC)- HOA Resettlement Alliance issued a notice of closure in the NHA's entrance gates and shut these with big locks.
In the notice of closure addressed to NHA General Manager Joeben Tal, the OPAC- HOA Resettlement Alliance raised that NHU is not doing its mandate to provide Filipinos with their rights to safe, decent, and affordable housing.
"Sa loob ng 48 taong pagkakatatag ng ahensyang NHA, hindi namin naramdaman ang makatong serbisyong ahensya ninyo dahil sa: walang maayos at sapat na batayang serbisyo; walang kabuhayan, trabaho, at pagkakakitaan; walang mga paaralan para sa mga bata; at walang hospital," the group stated.
They added that the NHU has yet provided refined roads and safe relocation sites to Filipino families.
The UPAC - HOA Resettlement Alliance also condemned the NHA's threat of issuing a notice of cancellation to those living in NHA housing projects due to the unpaid interest and penalty.
"Sa aming pantingin, ang NHA ay NEGOSYO, HINDI SERBISYO!" the group lamented.
They appealed to lawmakers to not extend the NHA's term which is slated to expire this July 31, 2025.
In May this year, House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos filed House Bill 8156 seeking to extend the corporate term of NHA.
"In order to adapt to the changing conditions in the housing industry and address the current problems of the agency, there is a need to expand, strengthen and reorganize the NHA as well as extend its corporate term," the bill reads.
Romualdez earlier assured that the proposed bill will be passed this year-end to meet the Marcos administration objective to complete the 6.15 million housing backlog.
