A SENATORIAL reelectionist plans to push for township development in areas like Davao City to address concerns on residents who keep on dwelling in dangerous zones.
Senatorial candidate JV Ejercito, during a press conference last Friday, April 22, in Davao City, said among his priorities aside from fully implementing the Universal Health Care law is the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD).
These laws are among the bills that Ejercito principally sponsored and which were signed by President Rodrigo Duterte into law simultaneously in February 2019.
"Also in the creation of the Department of Human Settlement, since it's still in its infancy stage as first few years in its implementation, we want to improve the housing program by introducing township, dapat township development na dapat kumpleto kaya nga human settlement, where everyone has an easy access to healthcare, education, livelihood, and transport. So hindi na yung tinitignan kung saan yung pinakamura yun ang dini-develop pero after a few months iiwanan din kasi malayo sa facilities," Ejercito said.
Ejercito, who was with Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, for his campaign sortie in Davao Region, said the township program was already implemented in his city in San Juan where he is its former city mayor for three consecutive terms from 2001 to 2010.
"What we did in San Juan which can also be done in Davao is yung on-site or near-city housing, medium-rise housing. Siguro kung saan meron pang bakanteng lupa, or government lands or even yun mismong communities or depressed communities, pwedeng i-redevelop and put up medium rise housing," he said, explaining that the strategy became successful in San Juan and in Metro Manila in general.
He also emphasized that the program should not be provided by the government to the people for free but that the government must ensure that the amortization is very affordable for the residents to acquire a decent house, adding that in San Juan, their amortization varies from P1,000, P800, and P600 per unit housing per month for 25 or 30 years.
"Kasi kailangan mabawi ng gobyerno ang kapital para makapagpagawa pa ng more housing, kailangan ma-rolling natin yan. And for the people to value their acquired house more, kasi pagbinigay mo nang libre baka hindi ma-value, iba yung talagang hinuhulugan mo," he said.
Ejercito said that before the establishment of the DHSUD, the government had six housing agencies and each has different mandate and program.
"Ang nangyayari, kung saan pinakamura ang lupa kahit na napakalayo, dun bibili para i-develop and gagawan ng mga bahay para lang may masabing may nagawa. Pipilitin ang informal settlers na ilipat na nasa danger zone, after a few months iiwanan kasi malayo sa hanapbuhay, malayo sa trabaho; walang educational, walang health care facilities," he said.
He said he wants to make sure that the thrust of the DHSUD is completely implemented if ever he is reelected as a senator.