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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte: Mass housing for Filipinos not easy

Duterte: Mass housing for Filipinos not easy

Published Jun 29, 2021 10:18 am

President Duterte conceded on Monday, June 28, it would be difficult for the government to produce massive socialized housing for homeless Filipinos.

In his taped public address, the Chief Executive said the completion of housing projects “takes time” because of the “conversion” system.

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech during the ceremonial signing of several laws in Malacañang on June 24, 2021. (Malacañang photo)

Forest lands have to be turned into agricultural land first before they can be converted into residential areas, he explained.

Duterte noted that it will usually take 20 years to finish housing projects because “ganyan ho kahirap mag-solve ng housing problem dito sa Pilipinas (that’s how hard it is to solve the housing problem here in the Philippines).”

“Pero sabihin mo na isang salita na bigyan mo lahat at matapos mo ganitong panahon (But you’re going to say that you’re going to give everyone a house and you will finish it at this specific period), you must be crazy or you are lying through your teeth because reali—realistically, hindi mo talaga kayang magawa ‘yan (you won’t be able to do that),” he added.

READ: ‘You must be dreaming': Duterte twits Pacquiao’s housing promise

The President even mentioned that the Yolanda housing project is just about to be finished under his term since there were only two houses there when he took over.

As of June last year, however, data from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the National Housing Authority (NHA) showed that the current administration has yet to construct more than 90,000 housing units intended for the victims of the 2013 super typhoon. This was out of the 220,680 target.

Duterte said he also asked the NHA to prioritize building houses for those living under bridges and near water tributaries. However, he noted that the government doesn’t have enough funds to give everyone a house.

“Hindi tayo puwede magpasok ng mass housing kasi hindi talaga kaya (We cannot go into mass housing because we cannot afford it),” he added.

“Hindi ko lahat mabigyan, mga kababayan ko, kasi wala ho—wala naman ganoong karaming pera, materials, at trabahante (I cannot give everyone, my countrymen because we don’t have—we don’t have that much money, materials, and workers).”

The Chief Executive, however, cited that work has now started in Brgy. Holy Spirit in Quezon City for the housing project there.

Related Tags

President Duterte conversion system mass housing agricultural land NHA yolanda
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