BATANG MAYNILA Manila Mayor Isko Moreno I am at a loss for words and highly-elated after signing before  the weekend Ordinance No. 8730 containing the implementing rules and regulations pertaining to the Manila local government’s in-city housing program. My deepest gratitude goes to Vice Mayor and Manila City Council Presiding Officer Honey Lacuna, majority floorleader Joel Chua, president pro tempore Jhong Isip and the Manila Councilors, as well as to Manila Urban Settlement and Housing Office Chief Atty. Cris Fernandez, for having made my dream come true, which is to give poor Manilans a chance to live in a home they can truly call their own. My parents and I have dreamt of this and although we did not achieve our dream then, at least we did now, for the homeless Manilans. I have been in public service for the past 23 years and this is the first time that I have seen an ordinance as thick as the one covering our housing program. We also have a handbook that would serve as a guide on the would-be beneficiaries of the said housing program. The beneficiaries of this in-city housing will include not only the squatters living in the vicinity of the housing projects’ location but also those who are currently just renting. I won’t be ashamed to admit that I got the idea from the late Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, including some of the processes he formulated in implementing his successful socialized housing program, which enabled those who did not earn high income to buy their own homes. Among other things, Ordinance 8730 provides the terms of payment and ownership of the housing units, which will be settled with the MUSHO on a monthly basis.  Once the beneficiary progresses in life and  finally decides to leave and move to a bigger and better  home for his family, the accumulated payments he had made will be given back to him so he could use the money for his new home. The beneficiary and his family and heirs are allowed to use the units for as long as they like.  However, the  ownership will remain with the city government and only the beneficiary’s bloodline will be able to use the unit concerned. The rationale behind this is the sad reality that transferring the ownership to the beneficiary will open the floodgates to the squatters’ habit of selling their rights to syndicates, only to end up squatting again. I myself used to be a squatter so I know for a fact that this kind of thing really happens. We simply cannot give the ownership to the beneficiaries because this is where housing programs fail. The beneficiaries sell the rights and then squat again. They tend to favour fast money only to use them up just as quickly. What I and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna really intend to do is provide the homeless with security that they will have roofs over their heads for their family and their future generations, long after they are gone. In the case of a city employee, he may use the unit assigned to him for as long as he serves in the city government.  However, when he retires, the use of the unit will have to be relinquished in order to give other employes the chance to use it. Again, if the employee concerned becomes capable of moving in to a better place, he will be able to get back whatever accumulated amount had been paid to the city over the years and then use the money for buying a new home. Each site will have its own drainage and water system, along with electricity supply for each unit which will come complete with comfort room, laundry area, kitchen, dining and sala area and a second floor where there will be two rooms, one for the parents and one for the children. We also came up with a hand book for the beneficiaries, containing rules that must be followed to ensure that the entire housing site is properly taken care of. Maintenance of the building, elevator and common lighting, among others, will be given to a private management office. With this ordinance, we in the local government of Manila are really intent on putting an end to squatting and renting. Once again, I thank God and Manilans for having given me and Vice Mayor Lacuna the golden opportunity to serve our citizens and achieve our dream of providing homes for those who have none. *** Gaya ng paulit-ulit  kong sinasabi, kailangan ko ang tulong ninyong lahat. Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first! *** For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account--- ‘IskoMoreno Domagoso.’