Cynthia Villar: DHSUD housing project is for middle class, not poor

Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday took a swipe at the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) over its condominium-style housing project, which she believes will benefit the middle class and not poor families.

Villar made the remark during the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget of the DHSUD, where the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program (4PH) was discussed. The 4PH is the Marcos administration's flagship housing project which seeks to build 3.2 million units by 2028.

The lawmaker, whose family is into the real estate business, stressed that the DHSUD's mandate is to provide housing projects for the poor and the homeless.

She cited the supposed situation in Las Piñas, where she said the homeless and the poor are encouraged to avail of the DHSUD's condominium-style housing project, instead of providing them lands to build their house on through the Community Mortgage Program (CMP).

"Why are you prioritizing the 3.2 million housing for the middle class when your mandate is to help the poor and the homeless?" Villar asked.

According to Villar, those who were offered with condominium-style housing project will have to pay P4,000 per month. This, she said, is more expensive compared to amortization of P500 per month under the CMP.

"The poor and the homeless can afford it (CMP), even the tricycle driver and mga nagtitinda sa palengke. But now, they are prioritizing condominium, ang condominium mahal. It's for the middle-class, it's not for the poor. Tapos paalisin nila sa doon sa lupa ang poor [at] lalagyan nila ng condominium, saan nila dadalhin 'yung poor?" she added.

(The poor and the homeless can afford CMP, even the tricycle driver and the market vendors. But now, they are prioritizing condominium, which is expensive. It's for the middle-class, it's not for the poor. Then they will evict the poor from lots where they will erect the condominium. Where will they bring the poor?)

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is defending the DHSUD proposed budget, said the condominium-style housing project is only paid P2,600 a month and can go as low as P1,500 a month if the amortization subsidy is processed in partnership with the local government unit.

"Ang sinasabi ng secretary, kahit doon sa mga lupa na sa ngayon tinitirhan ng mga informal settlers kung doon din magtatayo ng, halimbawa, medium-rise condominium, sila rin mismo ang titira doon," Hontiveros added.

(The secretary said the medium-rise condominiums will be constructed on the lands where the informal settlers are currently located. The informal settlers will also be the ones who will occupy it.)

Still, Villar insisted that the condominium-style housing project should not be prioritized.

"Hindi nga nila afford, eh. Why will you insist on building them condominiums when you can distribute the land to them? P500 a month lang ang babayaran nila. Why will you insist on building condominium? Dahil kikita ka sa contractor ng condominium na may porsyento ka roon kaya ini-insist mo 'yung condominium?" Villar asked.

(They cannot afford it. Why will you insist on building them condominiums when you can distribute the land to them? If you give them the land, they will only have to pay P500 a month. Why will you insist on building condominiums? Is it because the contractors will gain profit from it and they have kickbacks from its construction?)

"I don't think that's practical... why not distribute the land under the community mortgage program na P500 a month lang? Bakit ayaw niyo 'yun?" she added.

(I don't think that's practical... why not distribute the land under the community mortgage program that's only P500 a month? Why don't you want that?)

Hontiveros said previous "proven successful programs" such as the CMP would not be abandoned with the DHSUD's new 4PH program.

"'Yung mga proven, tried and tested components tulad ng CMP, i-sustain natin and then you can see if new ideas like the 4PH at ngayon may kasamang government guarantee ay puwedeng sama-samang tugunan 'yung ating housing needs," Hontiveros said.

(We will sustain those proven, tried and tested components like the CMP. Let's sustain them. Then you can see if the new ideas like 4PH could help address our housing needs.)

The plenary approval of the budget of the DHSUD was deferred after Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said there were more questions that the senators would like to raise with the department.

The continuation of the deliberations on DHSUD's budget is set for Nov. 18. — VDV, GMA Integrated News