Leni ‘good choice’ for housing post

Vice-President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

AN OFFICIAL of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday welcomed the appointment of Vice President Leni Robredo to the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) as a “good choice.”

Fr. Edu Gariguez said the CBCP is looking forward to a better performance and more consultative, propeople orientation of the agency with Robredo as head.

“This is thinking about what is good for the whole country and how she can be of service to the country. She has experience in working with the poor and civil society organizations. So that strength of hers is what we need,” he said.

Gariguez is the executive secretary of the CBCP’s National Secretariat for Social Action.

On Thursday, President Duterte appointed Robredo to lead the HUDCC, a surprise move considering his earlier pronouncements that he is not inclined to give her a Cabinet position.

Former Vice Presidents Noli de Castro and Jejomar Binay had also headed HUDCC concurrent to their terms as vice presidents.

Gariguez said Robredo’s potential would go to waste if she was not given a Cabinet position.

“Not just her potential but the very orientation that she could bring to the government, her orientation of servant leadership, propeople development and a genuine heart for the people,” he said.

He also expressed satisfaction with the appointment of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez and Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano.

“They are good choices, they are worthy people and are really fit for the job, not just to protect and pursue the interest of corporations and the ruling elite,” Gariguez said.

The HUDCC is the highest policy-making body for housing and coordinates the activities of the government housing agencies to ensure the implementation of the National Shelter Program and address various issues in the areas of housing finance, housing regulation, housing production and institutional development.

The HUDCC also functions to provide technical assistance to local government units on the delivery of housing services to their constituents.