International philanthropic organization Spring Rain Global (SRG) has named PROMDI party presidential bet and anti-poverty advocate Sen. Manny pacquiao the world’s “Ambassador for the Homeless and Vulnerable."
Pacquiao received the plaque of recognition while leading the groundbreaking of a community center of a housing development project at the reclamation area in Barangay Subangdako, Mandaue City, Cebu on Monday, Feb. 7. It was signed by Dr. Glenda M. Antonio, SRG president, among other signatories.
SRG honored Pacquiao as its global “ Ambassador for the Homeless and Vulnerable” for championing the cause of the homeless.
Spring Rain Global, which is known globally as one of the leading international organizations that raises and facilitates funding for various humanitarian projects especially in third world countries has been working with the country’s Vincentian Missionaries, the Malibu Matimco Village Home Owners Association Inc., the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association and the Mandaue City government for the construction of 3,000 housing units at the reclamation area in Sitio Malibu and Matimco in Mandaue.
The building of the community center was made possible through Pacquiao’s help.
Also during his visit to Cebu, Pacquiao also turned over 10 generator sets donated by Veloce Esports and Team Pacquiao GG to 10 communities in Cebu province which still has no electricity because of the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Odette.
Pacquiao is seeking the presidency of the country to fulfill his vow to help alleviate the conditions of the country’s poor and homeless.
Shelling out money from his hard-earned and successful boxing career, Pacquiao vowed to address the country’s corruption problem and allocate the money recovered from grafters to finance housing units for the impoverished.
The Mindanaoan senator said he expects to raise P500 billion to finance the housing program by merely kicking out or locking up corrupt officials and personnel in government.
Addressing the crowd that attended the groundbreaking ceremony in Mandaue City, Pacquiao underscored the importance of private sector partnerships that build shelters for poor Filipinos are helping bridge the housing gap, these projects are barely enough to make a dent in addressing the country’s massive housing shortage.
Pacquiao said this is the reason why housing is one of the priority programs under his “Health of the Nation” policy platform. Health is an acronym for Housing, Education, Aid, Livelihood, Transportation and Utilities and Health.
The Filipino boxing icon said that he realized that it is impossible to address the country’s housing problem without the full and direct support of the government after building five housing subdivisions called Pacman Villages in General Santos City and the province of Sarangani.
“ Gobyerno lang talaga ang may kakayahan na tapusin itong problema sa housing. These NGOs and private organizations like the SRG, the Vicentian Missionaries, MMVHAI and CREBA can only do so much to reduce the backlog.. (It is really the government that has the ability to put an end to the housing problem.),” he explained.
“Ako mismo nakapagpatayo ng limang Pacman Villages pero halos 2,000 families lang ang nabigyan ko ng libreng pabahay. ( i was able to building five Pacman Villages but only about 2,000 families were given free housing),” he said.
Talking to residents in Brgy. Subangdaku, Pacquiao assured them that his government will not only complement the ongoing reclamation housing project but would also work closely with the local government units for the full and immediate implementation of his plan to provide free housing for all homeless Filipinos.