Urban poor backs Marcos shelter program
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program has the support of urban poor who are also willing to take part in the flagship program.
This, after the Urban Poor Action Committee (UPAC) met with key officials of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) led by Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar for a dialogue on the marginalized sector’s shelter concerns and their consequent recommendations to the 4PH.
Madeline Suarez, from UPAC, expressed the group’s awe of the administration’s flagship program, as she expressed hopes that their “People’s Plan” would be considered under the “Pambansang Pabahay.”
“Maganda itong (urban poor group’s shelter initiatives) ituring na bahagi ng pagsasakatuparan ng 4PH na ipinatutupad ng pamahalaan.
Gusto naming bigyang diin na kami ay sumusuporta sa 4PH, at bilang pagsuporta ay gusto namin na maging bahagi ng proseso na magaganap,” Suarez said.
Suarez proceeded to present the housing projects borne of the coordination between the members of UPAC and the residents of the concerned communities. Notable of these projects were the 96,600-square meter Parola, Manila project with 25,000 families; the 49-hectare (ha) Baseco Port Area project in Manila with 24,000 beneficiary families; the 10-ha Camarin DHSUD property in Caloocan City to benefit 6,000 families; and the 17-ha National Government Center project in Quezon City to benefit 30,000 families. Also discussed were issues facing Lupang Arenda.
The UPAC, headed by lead facilitator Alicia Murphy, urged Secretary Acuzar to create a technical working group (TWG), composed of DHSUD experts and representatives from its key shelter agencies, to focus on the issues raised.
“Ngayon pa lang po malaking pasasalamat na… Hiling lang din po namin ay isang Special Order para sa creation ng TWG para ma-revitalize at ma-sustain ang engagement at mapalalim pa ang ating mga pinag-usapan,” the group said, adding: “Kami po ay natuwa na…bukod sa pinakinggan n’yo kami ay mayroon kayong kabukasan sa mga inilalahad namin.”
For his part, Acuzar reassured the groups that he would push for the fast-tracking of the Special Order for the TWG creation, but likewise asked for reassurance from the groups that they would also uphold the partnership and synergy they have created with the national government.
