Government treating relocation, housing as ‘business,’ claims senatorial bet

May 3, 2025 , 08:34 PM

(May 3, 2025) – A labor leader and senatorial candidate has criticized the government’s approach to public housing and relocation, claiming that it prioritizes profit over people’s rights.

On One News’ Aplikante, Mimi Doringo said the government should stop treating the matter like a business and start treating it as a basic public service.

“Wala magaganap na demolisyon sa anumang komunidad ng mga maralita kung walang maayos na relokasyon,” said Doringo. “Kapag sinabi nating maayos na relokasyon, dapat disente, abot-kaya, pang-masa, at pampubliko ‘yung mga pabahay na ipatatayo, na may kabuhayan ‘yung mga tao.”

She pointed out that without these basic conditions, many relocated families are forced to return to danger zones or informal settlements to survive.

She also criticized how the current public housing programs burden poor families with heavy loans, penalties, and interest rates. She added that many relocation sites lack even the most basic services like water, electricity, and decent construction.

“Twenty-four square meters na unit, pero aabot ng isang milyon (ang bayad?). Wala ngang pera ‘yung mga maralita, bakit natin sila sisingilin? Dapat ang pabahay sa atin ay pang-publiko at abot-kaya,” said Doringo. “Ang pabahay, karapatan ito ng bawat mamamayan kaya dapat hindi siya ginagawang negosyo ng ating pamahalaan.”

In 2023, Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. said his administration is targeting building six million public housing units for 30 million Filipinos.

Doringo blamed the National Housing Authority (NHA) and other government agencies for failing to deliver accessible public housing, urging the abolition of compounding interests and ballooning fees that trap families in debt.

“Kailangan talaga ‘yung pondo ng taumbayan mula sa buwis na pinaghihirapan nating lahat ay magamit bilang pondo para sa mga serbisyong panlipunan at hindi para sa bulsa ng iilan,” stressed Doringo.

In 2018, the NHA and its contractors were flagged for using substandard materials in public housing projects for earthquake victims in Leyte.

(PM)

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