Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo today gave updates on the Department’s assistance to urban poor relocatees in Pandi, Bulacan, including those who belong to the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY) who have recently occupied abandoned and neglected public housing projects of the National Housing Authority (NHA) in the municipality.

Both the original relocatees and the KADAMAY members who occupied the abandoned units have been experiencing hunger as members of both groups could not leave their houses to buy food.

“Out of the 10 relocation sites in Pandi, Bulacan, the Department has provided assistance in the form of family food packs (FFPs) to three relocation sites in the municipality. These include Pandi Residence 3, Pandi Village 2, and Padre Pio,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

DSWD Field Office (FO) in Region III has distributed food packs to a total of 281 families in Pandi Residence 3; 953 families in Pandi Village 2; and 2,390 families in Padre Pio relocation site.

“The DSWD extended aid to both the original relocatees and the KADAMAY members in the relocation sites. As of March 21, a total of 3,624 families were provided assistance in the form of Family Food Packs (FFPs); of this number, 1,342 families are KADAMAY members, while the remaining 2,282 are legitimate relocatees,” the welfare chief added.

On March 10, DSWD-FO III received a letter from the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), requesting for the provision of family food packs (FFPs) due to hunger in the relocation sites. The field office immediately sent staff to the relocation sites to validate the request, together with representatives from the DSWD Provincial Extension Office (DPEO).

After validation, FO III decided to request for 4,500 food packs on March 15 from the DSWD Central Office for distribution to the affected families. The field office started the distribution of the FFPs the next day to both the relocatees and KADAMAY members in Padre Pio relocation site.

DSWD-FO III met yesterday with representatives from the NHA and the barangay captains of the affected areas in Bulacan to discuss the next steps in addressing the issue.

FO III continues to validate the number of relocatees.

“Compassion for the poor means we do not discriminate against the communities we provide assistance to. If there is a crisis unfolding in the community, and the health, security, and immediate safety of people including the elderly and children are negatively affected,  we will provide whatever assistance we can to ease their difficulties.”

“We continue to provide assistance in Pandi, Bulacan based on the guidelines set by the Department. We do not want a repeat of the Kidapawan Massacre in April 1, 2016. At least one farmer was killed and 13 others were wounded when police dispersed a farmers’ protest action in Kidapawan City. The farmers were demanding calamity assistance in the form of rice subsidies because their families were starving after six months of drought in the region,” she said.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that the DSWD is willing to be involved in dialogues with National Housing Authority (NHA) to help address the issues and concerns being raised by the urban poor in Pandi. #