Meant to fail: Gov't to blame for sorry state of housing projects - Ridon
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Meant to fail: Gov't to blame for sorry state of housing projects - Ridon
Pia Gutierrez,
ABS-CBN News
Published Apr 20, 2017 05:50 PM PHT
MANILA – Government housing agencies should be held accountable for the poor state of housing projects in the Philippines, Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor Chair Terry Ridon said Thursday.
MANILA – Government housing agencies should be held accountable for the poor state of housing projects in the Philippines, Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor Chair Terry Ridon said Thursday.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Ridon admitted to the poor quality of housing units, especially for police and military personnel in Bulacan, and said that "such projects are meant to fail."
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Ridon admitted to the poor quality of housing units, especially for police and military personnel in Bulacan, and said that "such projects are meant to fail."
"Kasi obviously in terms of the project planning itself, parang may problema na. So, for example, in terms of site identification, in terms of the quality of the housing themselves, in terms of the actual absence of facilities and services," Ridon said.
"Kasi obviously in terms of the project planning itself, parang may problema na. So, for example, in terms of site identification, in terms of the quality of the housing themselves, in terms of the actual absence of facilities and services," Ridon said.
"Tingin ko dapat may managot kasi sa loob ng mahabang panahon, zero 'yung tumira eh…Parang, I would say that it was a project that was meant to fail."
The Senate has started to look into the government's housing projects, following the takeover of thousands of units in several National Housing Authority projects in Bulacan by urban poor group Kadamay.
"Tingin ko dapat may managot kasi sa loob ng mahabang panahon, zero 'yung tumira eh…Parang, I would say that it was a project that was meant to fail."
The Senate has started to look into the government's housing projects, following the takeover of thousands of units in several National Housing Authority projects in Bulacan by urban poor group Kadamay.
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Ridon said that the Kadamay incident underscored the need for bigger funding for housing projects, which he said should be equivalent to around P180 billion, or 1 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). According to data of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the country's housing backlog currently stands at 5.6 million houses.
Ridon said that the Kadamay incident underscored the need for bigger funding for housing projects, which he said should be equivalent to around P180 billion, or 1 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). According to data of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the country's housing backlog currently stands at 5.6 million houses.
"So basically, we will have to be able to produce a million new houses by the end of the term. And we are talking about a staggering amount of funds. And 'yun pong sa pagtataya po ng PCUP, I think we would really need maybe around almost more than a trillion to respond to the housing crisis," the official said.
"So basically, we will have to be able to produce a million new houses by the end of the term. And we are talking about a staggering amount of funds. And 'yun pong sa pagtataya po ng PCUP, I think we would really need maybe around almost more than a trillion to respond to the housing crisis," the official said.
Ridon also stressed the need for on-site relocation, to prevent economic dislocation of urban poor families.
Ridon also stressed the need for on-site relocation, to prevent economic dislocation of urban poor families.
"It's particularly more expensive than off-site. Pero alam ninyo, dahil nandito na 'yung mga paaralan, nandito na 'yung trabaho, hindi na kailangan gumawa ng mga bagong townships, like in off-site resettlement areas. So ultimately in terms of costs, parang magpapantay pa rin iyon para sa pamahalan at para sa mga apektadong mga pamilya," Ridon said.
"It's particularly more expensive than off-site. Pero alam ninyo, dahil nandito na 'yung mga paaralan, nandito na 'yung trabaho, hindi na kailangan gumawa ng mga bagong townships, like in off-site resettlement areas. So ultimately in terms of costs, parang magpapantay pa rin iyon para sa pamahalan at para sa mga apektadong mga pamilya," Ridon said.
He added that consultation with target beneficiaries is critical in housing projects.
He added that consultation with target beneficiaries is critical in housing projects.
The official explained that the push for on-site relocation should not run counter towards the government's move to decongest Metro Manila. "Let the other agencies proceed with the decongestion while still responding to the immediate concerns and problems of the urban poor in the cities," he said.
The official explained that the push for on-site relocation should not run counter towards the government's move to decongest Metro Manila. "Let the other agencies proceed with the decongestion while still responding to the immediate concerns and problems of the urban poor in the cities," he said.
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