NUPSC urges gov’t to reform housing program

FILE – Members of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) from the towns of Balagtas and Guiguinto still occupy the National Housing Authority (NHA) housing project in Pandi Heights 2 and 3, Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Bulacan, province.
INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

The National Anti-Poverty Commission-National Urban Poor Sectoral Council (NUPSC) on Wednesday urged the government to reform its housing programs in order to ensure decent and adequate housing for the poor.

The commission stood by the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) on its demand for decent housing during a joint Senate-House public hearing on Tuesday.

“The occupation of more than 5,000 housing units at Pandi, Bulacan initiated by Kadamay is a manifestation of the demand for decent housing and the government’s failure to resolve the housing problem,” NUPSC Chairman Noel Gallardo told the legislators.

Problems such as the lack of basic social services and livelihood in relocation sites plagued the government’s current housing program, Gallardo said. He also said that the government should consult the beneficiaries on housing projects to identify the needs of the community.

“We need a comprehensive and adequate housing program to ensure that the poor will have the basic necessities for decent living that includes basic social services and facilities such as schools and hospitals, livelihood and employment opportunities, and climate change adaptation requirements,” Gallardo explained.

“There’s also a need to legislate the on-site, in-city housing program and mandatory inventory of all government lands, both local and national, and use these assets for the comprehensive housing programs,” he added.

The NUPSC also noted that tax reforms on land and housing and institutionalizing the People’s Fund for Comprehensive Housing Program should be considered to help poor relocatees and provide beneficiaries and guarantee the right to decent and adequate housing.

But Gallardo said that for the meantime, the “no demolition without adequate relocation” policy should be strictly implemented.

Meanwhile, Congress will come out with a joint resolution allowing the National Housing Authority (NHA) to “reaward” more than 50,000 unoccupied housing units intended for military and police personnel to four sectors that included informal settlers like members of the Kadamay, as discussed on the same congressional hearing.

READ: NHA to ‘reaward’ houses to Kadamay members