Robredo vows to cut 1.4M backlog in HUDCC

Newly appointed housing czar Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Friday vowed to prioritize reducing the backlogs in the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), which she said is now at 1.4 million houses, with limited budget.

“As of now ‘yung backlog nasa 1.4 million na houses ‘yung kailangan, that’s 1.4 million families. Halo ito, nandiyan ‘yung mga either victims ng calamities, merong homeless, merong mga nakatira sa dilapidated houses na natirhan na. Halo halo ito, so kailangan kong aralin ano ba ‘yung status nito. May naumpisahan na ba, may ongoing na ba,” Robredo said in a press briefing at her office in Quezon City.

“Tingin ko ‘yung pinaka-target by the end of six years at least sana ma-satisfy ‘yung backlog. Puwera sa backlog, hindi sa akin klaro kung ‘yung 1.4 million as of when, pero nakita ko ‘yung projected nila magkakaroon pa ng additional na 5.5 million na pangangailangan. So ang laking challenge considering na maliit lang ‘yung budget ng opisina,” she said.

Robredo on Friday accepted Duterte’s offer to head the government’s housing arm, which was first announced by Malacañang through a televised briefing.

The Vice President said the Cabinet post would allow her to do more for the marginalized sector, adding that housing was an issue “very close” to her heart.

“‘Yung sa ‘kin naman kasi hindi naman ako uurong sa trabaho, tingin ko ‘yung posisyon na in-offer sa akin isang platform para lalo akong makatulong. Lalo na kasi housing ito—ito talaga ‘yung issue na very close to my heart, hindi lang dahil advocacy siya ni Jesse pero dahil sa matagal na panahon ko sa civil society and as an alternative lawyer, isa talaga ito sa mga issues na ipinaglaban ko,” Robredo said.

“Ngayon na binibigyan ako ng pagkakataon, sabi ko naman sa sarili ko, aayaw pa ba ko na ibinibigay sa akin ang opportunity?” she added.

Robredo also vowed to fulfill the HUDCC’s mandate of providing “decent housing for the poor,” and streamline the processes and applications within the agency.

Admitting that she still had a lot to learn, Robredo said she is set to meet HUDCC officials at her office on Friday.

“Pag-aaralan ano ‘yung sitwasyon na dadatnan, ano ‘yung mga kailangang gawin. Ako marami na akong ideya, kung ano ‘yung nangyayari at kung ano ‘yung ayaw na nating mangyari. Halimbawa, ‘yung pagproseso ng mga papeles sobrang daming opisina, sobrang daming tao, sobrang daming pirma ‘yung kailangan. Na ‘yung pakiramdam ko lang, kung gusto nating pagsilbihan ‘yung mahihirap, sana ‘wag na natin silang pahirapan pa,” she said.

“Pag-aaralan namin kung paano pa mas ma-streamline ‘yung services para hindi pahirap. Marami pa akong kailangan pag-aralan. Actually kanina at kagabi pinag-aralan ko na ‘yung mga documents ng opisina, pero iba pa rin kapag kausap ko na ‘yung HUDCC family,” Robredo added.