PASAY CITY -- Considering the persistent issues of poverty, unemployment and limited access to affordable housing, aggravated by the ongoing pandemic and other crises, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has once again filed his Rental Housing Subsidy Bill to help address homelessness in the country.
Go underscored the importance of immediately acting upon the challenges faced by homeless Filipinos nationwide. He then cited how the proposed measure can provide adequate, sustainable and habitable shelter for Filipinos affected by disasters and other crisis situations.
“Sa pag-iikot ko ng bansa, nakita ko po kung gaano kahirap sa ating mga kababayang tinamaan ng bagyo o kaya naman pagputok ng bulkan ang makakuha ulit ng kanilang matitirhan. Kung nais po talaga natin mabigyan ng komportableng buhay ang bawat isa, bigyan natin sila ng komportable at ligtas na pabahay,” stressed Go.
“Nakita po natin sa datos na milyun-milyong Pilipino ang walang natutulugan tuwing gabi. Mga kapwa kong senador, lakasan pa po natin ang ating suporta upang maiahon natin ang ating mga kapwa Pilipino mula sa mga krisis na ating kinakaharap,” he urged.
Under the proposed measure, a housing and social protection program will be developed that will provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies provided by the government.
Thus, the bill seeks to also address the plight of displaced families caused by various crises and calamities, whether natural or man-made disasters, as well as those families who cannot afford or build their own homes.
More so, eligible beneficiaries shall receive a rental subsidy, the amount of which shall be determined by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), taking into consideration, among others, the prevailing rental rates in their respective locality and economic standing and potential of the family.
Rental subsidy shall be granted to eligible beneficiaries for a maximum of five years or upon their availment or acquisition of permanent housing, whichever comes first.
Apart from DHSUD, the National Housing Authority will be tasked to certify the eligibility of the beneficiaries under the program, and coordinate with other concerned agencies for the identification of areas housing persons who need immediate resettlement.
“Ngayon na nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, lumalala ang kalagayan nila. Madalas, mas takot pa ang mga kababayan natin na mawalan ng matitirahan kaysa magkaroon ng COVID-19. Hindi ito tama kaya ipaglalaban ko na magkaroon ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino ng isang maayos at disenteng bahay,” vowed Go.
Aside from the said bill, Go further pushed for the enactment of more measures that aim to improve and strengthen the nation’s resilience to disasters, including the creation of the Department of Disaster Resilience and the establishment of mandatory evacuation centers in every city, province and municipality.
In addition, Go also filed for a measure establishing a housing and social protection program for Filipinos and creating a National Housing Development, Production and Financing Program.
“Dapat po magkaroon ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino ng isang maayos at disenteng tirahan. Pangako po naming dalawa ni dating Pangulong (Rodrigo) Duterte, na bigyan ng mas maginhawang buhay ang bawat Pilipino, lalung-lalo na po ang mga mahihirap," Go vowed.
“Wala na dapat maging squatter sa sariling bayan,” he reiterated.
The senator was also the main proponent of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2) which is a long-term plan of the government to decongest urban areas, boost countryside development, and improve the quality of life in all regions.
“Ako naman po ay hinihikayat ko po ang bagong administrasyon na ipagpatuloy po ‘yung Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program po based on Executive Order po ito ni dating Pangulong Duterte,” expressed Go.
“Pagandahin pa natin lalo itong programang ito. Marami sa ating mahihirap ang nabigla nang dahil sa pandemya. Nawalan sila ng tirahan at trabaho. Kaya naman sa pamamagitan ng Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa program, bibigyan po sila ng pagkakataon, 'yung sino lang po gustong bumalik ng probinsya. And of course, ma-decongest po natin ang Maynila,” he explained. (OSBG)
