Makati Homeville residents pinning hopes on Kid Peña

Residents of the controversial Makati Homeville housing project in Calauan, Laguna province, had an important visitor last week: acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr.

On Thursday, Peña drove his motorcycle all the way from Makati City to Barangay (village) Dayap for his first public meeting with around 800 residents. Some 650 families have been relocated from a slum area in the country’s financial capital to the 40-hectare resettlement site since 2009.

“I really wanted to come here. This is our chance to do something for them and see what else can be done in terms of programs,” Peña told reporters during his visit.

With the visit billed as “Makati Kid’s Day,” the acting mayor came with several Makati City department heads and personnel which offered medical checkups and civil registration services. There were also raffle prizes and a program for the children.

In his speech, Peña vowed to complete the installation of electrical and water utilities, services only available to half of the households at the site.

He also promised to work on the deed of donation for the awarding of the land titles to the residents.

“I hope he can make good on his promise,” said Nenette Rubino, 46, as the crowd cheered loudly.

To Virgilio Tapales, 49, a Homeville resident for three years, this was the time for Peña to prove himself. “I used to be for [suspended Makati Mayor Junjun] Binay, but now, we’ll have to give him [Peña] a chance,” he said.

Edison Rivera and Domingo Arcilla, both repeatedly referred to in the program as Makati Homeville “heroes,” said they believed Peña could “somehow” improve their situation.

“I wanted to cry tears of joy seeing all these. These are what we have been fighting for, especially the [awarding of the] titles,” Rivera said.

Calling his visit as his post-birthday celebration, Peña distributed 10 pedicabs—the primary form of transportation inside the site—
and distributed P500 to some senior citizens in the audience.

“Some can be easily done,” he said, referring to what he had promised to residents. But others, such as the property transfer, may take time, he admitted. “What’s important is to start working on something,” Peña said.

Peña took over from Binay in July after the latter was ordered suspended for six months over the allegedly overpriced Makati Science High School building.

The resettlement site is a project of his father, former Makati mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is also facing corruption allegations.

During a Senate hearing, the elder Binay was accused of taking P1 billion in kickbacks from the housing project.–Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon