That simple?

President Duterte has opted to just give the houses that Kadamay occupied, illegally if I may add, in Bulacan. In a speech before soldiers, he asked for understanding on his decision to just give away the houses that already had legitimate beneficiaries, mostly soldiers and policemen. To soften the blow, Duterte promised the soldiers and policemen much better housing units by the end of the year, since the government has the funds to build them. We should all understand the plight of the poor, he adds.

Is it really that simple? Are procedures and criteria for government housing just thrown out the window, simply because a group decided to illegally occupy houses, which by the way have already been awarded? What happens to those who submitted government requirements, those who passed the criteria and even spent money to avail of the houses, not to mention the waiting time? Aren't most of the beneficiaries considered poor as well? Are the National Housing Authority and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council still relevant? 

Many have already reacted. Senators, even those aligned with the current administration, have said that this decision by Duterte sets a bad precedent, and practically paves the way for anarchy. What is to stop other government housing units from being occupied, now that they know they have a sympathetic ear in the president? What will stop groups from claiming to be Kadamay, since this seems to be the formula for free housing? What will prevent several groups from coming out of the woodwork and start claiming not only idle housing units but idle lands as well, both government and private?

I cannot help but shake my head at this one. There are procedures for everything in government, including housing. One can argue that these procedures still favor those who can afford a little something in life, since they still have to pay a minimal amount back to the government. But that is no reason for anyone to just "occupy" a house. If giving free housing was the plan, then tenements should have been built instead of individual units to maximize the land. Many families can benefit from tenements, not just a single family per single detached unit.

I agree that this decision paves the way for anarchy. Just imagine the thousands who now wish they just joined Kadamay and occupied the houses. They could have been given free housing by now. There are those who will feel bad, or even cheated that they were not given free houses as well, not even considering those legitimate beneficiaries who not only lost their house, they now have to wait even longer. While people are still taking in what has happened, Kadamay leaders are now saying that the monthly fees have to be scrapped as well, since they cannot afford it. The legitimate beneficiaries apparently still have to pay a monthly fee, albeit much lower than a usual housing loan. So who is going to pay for these houses, now that Duterte has given them away? 

Duterte has always said that being poor is no reason to break the law, particularly those involved in illegal drugs. We all know how he is dealing with those who are. If Kadamay is saying that the only reason they occupied the houses is because they are poor, what happens to that statement now? Is it up there with "Who doesn't have a girlfriend?" or "There is nothing we can do to China" or "I will pardon and promote the police accused of premeditated murder?"