Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, Sept. 8 said he remains steadfast in his advocacy to see his housing dream for nearly 10 million informal settlers and families come to fruition.
In a virtual press conference, Pacquiao, who has yet to announce his plans for the May 2022 national elections, said he believes that the government can provide free housing for the 1.9 million informal setter families in four to five years.
Such is a conservative estimate, he said, so he would not be called a liar. He said the government can effectively provide housing for the country’s homeless if it eradicates corruption.
Pacquaio said he is proud to be able to help maintain his own housing programs using his own money through the years, using his earnings from boxing.
“Ito pong pabahay ko, hindi po ito imposible; possible po lahat itong sinasabi ko. Alisin lang po natin yung greediness sa puso natin. In three years, lahat yan magkakaroon ng sariling tahanan. Wala pong babayaran (This housing dream, it’s not impossible; everything I said is possible. Let’s just remove the greediness in our hearts. In three years, everyone can have their own homes. They won’t have to pay anything),” Pacquiao said.
“Kapag magkaroon ang isang pamilya ng sariling bahay, ma-encourage sila mag-trabaho. Hindi na mag-iisip kung ano pa gagawin, kung hindi maghanap-buhay (If families have their own houses, they would be encouraged to work, they have nothing to worry about but just find means for livelihood),” he pointed out.
“Sa akin, estimate ko three to four years, pero sinabi ko na lang three to five years para di ako maging sinunggaling. Nagsisimula ang maayos na lipunan mula sa maayos na tahanan, (I made an estimate of three to four years, but I made it three to five years so I won’t be told a liar. An orderly society society starts through an orderly home),” the lawmaker added.
He also reiterated that eradicating corruption remains his primary advocacy as he believes this is also one way of maintaining peace and order and prosperity to a nation.
“Tulungan nyo po ako mag sama-sama tayo para sugpuin ang corruption, mapakulong at makita natin na magsama sama sa kulungan ang mga corrupt (Please help me and let’s band together to stop corruption and to put to jail and watch these corrupt politicians go to jail),” he said.
Asked how he intends to sustain a housing program without making informal settler beneficiaries take advantage of it and sell the houses, Pacquiao said he has already come up with a mechanism to make sure they won’t sell it.
He also said his housing program also covers those who are still renting homes. Citing government data, Pacquiao said there are around 1.9 million informal settlers with 25 percent of them living in Metro Manila, while there are 6.7 million families who continue to rent houses.
“Yan po ang target natin. Uunahin po antin yung mga informal settlers para magkaroon ng sariling tahanan (That’s our target. We will prioritize informal settlers have their own homes),” Pacquiao stressed.