Manila Bulletin
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Railway expansion must include socialized housing, agri value chain—Hontiveros
Philippines
National
Railway expansion must include socialized housing, agri value chain—Hontiveros
Railway expansion must include socialized housing, agri value chain—Hontiveros
Published Jul 14, 2023 07:46 am
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, July 14 reiterated the importance of providing socialized and affordable housing, as well as keeping the agricultural value chain running, in line with the expansion of the country’s railway system.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB Photo)
Hontiveros pointed this out following the ceremonial signing of the P50-B contract packages for North-South Commuter Railways (NSCR).
The 14.9 kilometers of elevated railways and viaducts will be constructed in Blumentritt, Buendia, EDSA, Senate, Bicutan, and Sucat. Some of these stations will be interconnected with the Metro Manila Subway Station.
“Hindi lang problema sa transportasyon ang pwedeng matugunan ng railways projects. Isa rin itong oportunidad para makapagtayo ng mga abot-kayang pabahay at maging tulay sa pagitan ng mga magsasaka at pamilihan sa siyudad (Railways projects can not only address transportation problems. This is also an opportunity to build affordable housing and be a bridge between farmers and markets in the city),” Hontiveros said.
The Marcos administration should also take advantage of the project to broaden market access of farmers in rural areas and eventually increase the demand for agricultural products.
Hontiveros explained railways can connect remote and rural agricultural areas with urban centers and export markets and thus, help farmers raise their prices.
“Konektado na ng tren mula Clark hanggang Calamba at sa long haul project hanggang Bicol . Dapat samantalahin ito ng gobyerno para sa wakas ay mapadali na para sa mga masasaka ang mai-angkat ang produkto sa mga palengke sa siyudad (The train already connects Clark to Calamba and for long-haul projects, up to Bicol. The government should take advantage of this to finally make it easier for farmers to import the product to the city markets),” Hontiveros stated.
With such mechanism in place, the lawmaker said farmers no longer need to rely on middle men who double the price and will only buy products from them at a discount.
“Sana nandoon si Presidente bilang Agriculture Secretary dahil sa mga palibot ng itatayong tren na ito pwedeng magkaroon ng patotoo ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi nilang value chain para sa maliliit na mangingisda at magsasaka (I hope the President is there as Agriculture Secretary because around this train that will be built, there can be a testimony of the value chain they keep saying for small fishermen and farmers),” Hontiveros added.
At the same time, she said the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) socialized and affordable housing programs must be given priority over private property developers when allocating the lots surrounding train stations.
“Kailangan nating bigyan ng puwang ang murang pabahay ng DHSUD para sa mga kababayan natin na hindi kayang magbayad ng mataas na presyo ng mga high rise condominiums (We need to make room for cheap DHSUD housing for our citizens who cannot afford the high prices of high rise condominiums),” she said.
Hontiveros also vowed to support equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and DHSUD in the upcoming budget hearings in the Senate.
“Kung sabay na isasaalang-alang ang transportasyon, pagpapalakas ng value chain, at abot-kayang pabahay, magiging malaking kaluwagan ito sa mga commuters, manggagawa at mga konsyumer (If transportation, strengthening the value chain, and affordable housing are all taken into consideration at the same time, it will be a great relief to commuters, workers and consumers),” the lawmaker stressed.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros (Senate PRIB Photo)
Hontiveros pointed this out following the ceremonial signing of the P50-B contract packages for North-South Commuter Railways (NSCR).
The 14.9 kilometers of elevated railways and viaducts will be constructed in Blumentritt, Buendia, EDSA, Senate, Bicutan, and Sucat. Some of these stations will be interconnected with the Metro Manila Subway Station.
“Hindi lang problema sa transportasyon ang pwedeng matugunan ng railways projects. Isa rin itong oportunidad para makapagtayo ng mga abot-kayang pabahay at maging tulay sa pagitan ng mga magsasaka at pamilihan sa siyudad (Railways projects can not only address transportation problems. This is also an opportunity to build affordable housing and be a bridge between farmers and markets in the city),” Hontiveros said.
The Marcos administration should also take advantage of the project to broaden market access of farmers in rural areas and eventually increase the demand for agricultural products.
Hontiveros explained railways can connect remote and rural agricultural areas with urban centers and export markets and thus, help farmers raise their prices.
“Konektado na ng tren mula Clark hanggang Calamba at sa long haul project hanggang Bicol . Dapat samantalahin ito ng gobyerno para sa wakas ay mapadali na para sa mga masasaka ang mai-angkat ang produkto sa mga palengke sa siyudad (The train already connects Clark to Calamba and for long-haul projects, up to Bicol. The government should take advantage of this to finally make it easier for farmers to import the product to the city markets),” Hontiveros stated.
With such mechanism in place, the lawmaker said farmers no longer need to rely on middle men who double the price and will only buy products from them at a discount.
“Sana nandoon si Presidente bilang Agriculture Secretary dahil sa mga palibot ng itatayong tren na ito pwedeng magkaroon ng patotoo ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi nilang value chain para sa maliliit na mangingisda at magsasaka (I hope the President is there as Agriculture Secretary because around this train that will be built, there can be a testimony of the value chain they keep saying for small fishermen and farmers),” Hontiveros added.
At the same time, she said the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) socialized and affordable housing programs must be given priority over private property developers when allocating the lots surrounding train stations.
“Kailangan nating bigyan ng puwang ang murang pabahay ng DHSUD para sa mga kababayan natin na hindi kayang magbayad ng mataas na presyo ng mga high rise condominiums (We need to make room for cheap DHSUD housing for our citizens who cannot afford the high prices of high rise condominiums),” she said.
Hontiveros also vowed to support equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and DHSUD in the upcoming budget hearings in the Senate.
“Kung sabay na isasaalang-alang ang transportasyon, pagpapalakas ng value chain, at abot-kayang pabahay, magiging malaking kaluwagan ito sa mga commuters, manggagawa at mga konsyumer (If transportation, strengthening the value chain, and affordable housing are all taken into consideration at the same time, it will be a great relief to commuters, workers and consumers),” the lawmaker stressed.