Thursday, June 26, 2008 Oledan: Prescription By Radzini Oledan Slice Of Life
URBAN poverty has its accompanying ill-effects manifested in the condition of children who succumb to malnutrition and illnesses and who are exposed to an environment where an extremely low income is coupled by the proliferation of criminality, drug addiction and in some instances, prostitution.
An improved quality of life is a development goal that essentially springs from a human value that it is worthwhile for people to have enough resources and acquire the good things in life -- to be free from illnesses, dwell in a comfortable and happy home and pursue quality education.
The availability of opportunities and a decent shelter is fundamental to the overall state of development. It is in the context of this basic value that government and private entities have geared their programs toward the alleviation of poverty.
But more often, experts are isolated from the consequence of their action and proceed without deeper analysis on how the greater majority is affected.
When applied to the housing problem of the poor, the usual prescription is to endorse relocation or even eviction of squatters without giving much thought to the long and short-term outcomes of moving people away from their places of work.
More tragically, there are also those who recommend development strategies for aesthetic considerations rather than out of concern for the urban poor.
Councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, chair of SP committee on urban housing and development provided a fresh insight on how to tackle the perennial problem of shelter lack with the assertion that 20% of the revenue of land developers be invested in the city for socialized housing, instead of the usual credit buy-in which is used by developers in other areas.
Cabling said it is a matter of priority to look into the situation on shelter backlog by constituting the local housing board which will be composed of representatives from people's organizations, non government organizations, business group, professionals and key city departments.
"We want to respond to the poorest of the poor, especially those who cannot afford socialized housing," he pointed out.
The initiative is borne out of clear understanding of social realities and assessment of how the current housing program impacts on the poorest of the poor.
It is easy to get sidetracked by the realities of poverty and the societal structure that promotes it.
Slowly, some of our policy makers are seriously attending to the plight of the urban, going beyond the usual menu of programs towards initiating small changes in the lives of the people. E-mail comments to roledan@gmail.com
