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Kadamay presses demand for housing rights

Urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) trooped to the National Housing Authority yesterday, March 24, to condemn the agency’s failure to address the housing crisis that victimizes at least five million families household nationwide.

The group called for scrapping of the Urban Development and Housing Act it said never succeeded in addressing the ever-worsening shortage of housing for the poor.

Kadamay called on the poor to join them in demanding free mass housing for the poor from the Rodrigo Duterte government. (Video by Divine Miranda)

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“Duterte promised us free housing”–Kadamay

THE Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) said their occupation of vacant units at various projects in Pandi, Bulacan stemmed from President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise of free housing.

They said they have waited long enough for the promise to be fulfilled, repeatedly petitioning various government agencies, to no avail.

Finally, last March 8, they have decided to take matters into their own hands and moved into vacant housing units that have been waiting for occupants for at least two years already.
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Revolutionary women’s organization take to Manila streets

The revolutionary Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (Makibaka) took to the streets of downtown Manila last March 17 to commemorate International Women’s Month in a “lightning rally.”

Denouncing the continuing poverty and injustices suffered by Filipino women under the Rodrigo Duterte government, the underground group called on women to join the national democratic revolution.

Makibaka is one of the founding allied organizations of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, which also includes the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army. Read more

Kadamay: Unjust policies force poor to occupy housing sites

Urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) marched to Mendiola yesterday to urge President Rodrigo Duterte to a dialogue in order for them to show proof that hundreds of housing units are unoccupied in Bulacan Province.

Instead of distributing government housing units to poor beneficiaries, the National Housing Authority only choose families who can pay exorbitant rates, Kadamay said.

Hundreds of Kadamay members occupied several housing projects in Bulacan last week, a move aimed at bringing the issue to Duterte’ attention, the group said. (Video by Divine Miranda/Featured photo by Romie Malonzo) Read more

GRP and NDFP informal talks put peace process back on track

Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) negotiators agreed to resume formal peace talks more than a month after President Rodrigo Duterte’s termination of the negotiations.

After several weeks of heated exchanges between both parties, the informal talks held in Utrecht, the Netherlands last Friday and Saturday put the peace process back on track with several new agreements such as the release of five NDFP consultants and a prospective bilateral ceasefire.

Here is the formal announcement made by Ambassador Elisabeth Slattum of the Royal Norwegian Government of the results of the backchannel negotiations in The Netherlands in the past two days.

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Gabriela leads International Women’s Day celebrations in Manila

Women’s group Gabriela led the celebrations of International Women’s Day in Manila last March 8.

The group called for the release of women political detainees, including genuine agrarian reform, jobs, social justice, social services, children’s rights, defense of the environment, self determination for indigenous peoples and just peace, among other demands. (Video by Divine C. Miranda) Read more

Manobo woman leader calls for peace talks resumption

Manobo woman leader Bae Joselyn Agdahan of Quezon, Bukidnon calls for the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

She said there must be peace in their land as GRP troops continue to encroach into their communities, killing many of their tribes people.

Activists oppose death penalty

On the day the House of Representatives voted on third and final reading the death penalty re-institution bill, activist groups held a protest rally in front of Congress’ lower house.

Activists say the Rodrigo Duterte government must be held accountable for the deaths of about eight thousand victims of fascist attacks, mostly poor citizens. Read more

Progressives say fight continues 31 years after EDSA

Progressive organizations marched to EDSA to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the first EDSA People Power uprising that deposed the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

While they recalled the horrors that many suffered under Marcos’ Martial Law, they said genuine change has yet to happen.

The group did not join the pro-Aquino or the pro-Duterte activities which were held separately yesterday. Read more

UP CSWCD names Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay 2017 Gawad Tandang Sora honoree

The College of Social Work and Community Development of UP Diliman named Manobo leader Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay as its third Gawad Tandang Sora recipient as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations this year.

Bigkay was cited for her leadership in the Indigenous People’s struggles for human rights and dignity. Read more