By Mario Casayuran
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said on Wednesday that those affected by recent fires could use the National Housing Development, Production and Financing Act of 2019, which he is proposing, to rebuild their homes.
Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (MANILA BULLETIN)
This measure is one of the nine other priority bills he filed with the Senate last week that might be taken up in the forthcoming 18thCongress that starts July 22.
Go explained that if the proposed measure becomes law, these options will be made available to all Filipinos who are poor and left homeless.
In his message to fire victims, Go said that there are two options for now as he had initial talks with the National Housing Authority (NHA).
“Nakausap ko na ang NHA para roon sa murang pabahay at may dalawang options po kayo. Panahon na rin po na magkaroon kayo ng sarili niyong pamamahay,’’ he said. (I have talked to the National Housing Authority (NHA). Fire victims have two options. It is time that he should have your own homes.)
In the first option, Go explained that since most of the lands where the houses of illegal settlers are located are privately owned, he proposed that if the titled land owner agrees that the land can be bought through the Community Mortgage Program (CMP), Filipinos could organize their own associations so that they can easily pay the mortgage and eventually own the land.
On the other hand, the government has available housing projects in Naic, Cavite as another option for those left homeless by the recent fire accident in Bacoor.
“Mayroon po tayong housing sa Naic at malapit lang ito. Pwede po kayong mag-avail ng murang pabahay mula sa gobyerno,” Go said.
(Government has a housing program in Naic (Cavite) and it is near to urban areas. You can avail of a government-sponsored housing program>)
Go said the reason he filed the said bill is to lessen those who currently do not have homes.
“Para naman mabawasan ‘yung mga walang sariling bahay. Sa susunod na mga taon, wala na dapat squatter sa sariling bayan,” he told the public. (This will reduce the number of homeless families. Eventually, no Filipino should be a squatter in his own country.)
Go explained that these measures are part of his legislative agenda is to protect their welfare and to ensure that their programs for their constituents are properly implemented.