VICE President Jejomar Binay once again said he won't be a "spare tire" in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, even as he could not help expressing his disappointment "in the organizational set-up."
"Pananaw ko hindi totoo na yung Vice President ay spare tire lamang. Aking sinasabi po sa inyo na ako po ay makikialam sa lahat ng department sa pamahalaan," Binay said during the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) 8th General Membership Meeting at Marco Polo Hotel where he was the guest of honor.
However, Binay could not help showing how the current set-up among the leadership in the Aquino administration has affected him.
"Pagkasinabi ko sa inyo, since you are executives in your right, siguro ay magtataka kayo o magugulat kung ano ba ibig kong sabihin. Ang organizational set-up is yung President, Vice president tapos wala na ho sa baba. Ang regular department nandoon na lahat sa President. I'd like to think that despite that kind of an organizational set-up, the President is the chief executive, the CEO, and the Vice President should be a COO," he said.
He assured that he will work with all the departments.
The Vice President, who accepted the offer of President Aquino to head the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said he has been making a lot of talks with organizations and foreign governments that have shown interest in investing in socialized housing in the country.
Binay said the South Korean government, for one, has shown concrete plans to invest in a massive housing program in the country in the next three years.
"South Koreans have been noted to currently top the number among other foreigners in the country, more than the Japanese. They have been investing in energy, ship building, manufacturing, and education. There's no limit to what we see to come in. Now the South Korean government has shown their interest for a massive housing program of several million houses within three years," Binay said.
He said he welcomes such development in recognizing that the Aquino administration has presented the country as an investment area. "We need to show the world more our maximum potential."
Before the event at DCCCII, Binay was also guest of honor to the 1st National Convention of the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) and HUDCC at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, where he detailed his plans to make affordable housing to the low income sector of the country.
"Pagpasok ko sa (HUDCC), nalaman kong ang pina-uutang ng Pag-ibig ay P400,000 ang below, charges an interest na six percent. In concrete figure, ang monthly amortization is at P2,326 kung hindi ako nagkakamali. Hindi para sa akin socialized housing ito, kasi po maraming living within the low income sector ang hindi nakakakaya nito. Yung P400,000 suggestion ko biyakin natin to P200,000 to P100,000 at yung babayaran na lang ay P349 or P350 pesos per month," Binay said.
Binay added that he does not believe in "contract to sell" but would rather the government immediately name the land after the beneficiaries.
He said he is talking to the local government units and they are focusing on the traditional service, peace and order, social services, health and education, but there is no department of shelter. "Baka pwedeng magkaroon per LGU ng ganito. You can also expect na in the following days, magmi-meeting ako with government officials looking for land that would be donated to the poor, mga 100,000, libre na yung lupa at yung kalye, ang pagtutulungan is yung pagpapatayo ng bahay."
Binay also said that he has also talked to the Land Registration Authority and learned that the department has launched its new automated system for land registration.
In an address to the member developers of OSHDP, Binay said they should also look into accepting service as payment for houses.
"For those who cannot pay, how do we bring houses to those who build our houses? Let us study loan requirements and repayment terms, review the whole system... Let us set up the mechanisms. The poor homebuyers can buy with their services. The government can pay the businessmen and the developers are given tax incentives. Let us explore the possibilities," Binay said. (JCZ)