Lina clarifies housing issues

CEBU, Philippines - Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose “Joey” Lina clarified some misconceptions in the resettlement of urban poor families, inventory of housing sites, curtailing professional squatters and syndicates in a special seminar held yesterday at the Holiday Plaza Hotel, Cebu City.

Lina gave a comprehensive overview of Republic Act 7279, also known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, which he authors and is also commonly known as the Lina Law.

Lina, encouraged local government units and other stakeholders to be more responsible in the implementation of the 20-year old Lina law.

Aside from being the former DILG Secretary, Lina was also the governor of Laguna, and the President of the Union of Local of the Philippines (ULAP) and of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP).

From the insights of legal experts and housing practitioners, he advised to provide double solutions to the prevailing problems particularly on the sensitive issues with regards to eviction, demolitions and relocations of informal settlers especially in times of disasters and calamities.

Lina further clarified some misconceptions about the resettlement of urban poor families particularly on the right to housing of Filipinos and not the right to “free” housing.

With this, local Government Units (LGUs) are duty-bound to stop and demolish the construction of illegal structures, precisely because they are illegal and do not have building permits, he added.

He shared that when the poor and the homeless are to be demolished, relocation sites are required whether temporary or permanent.

But if it’s impossible to provide relocation, then the local government must extend financial assistance to the families affected equivalent to a 60-day daily wage. 

Unfortunately, Lina said LGUs have not done their jobs as mandated by the law. If the law would have been implemented, there would be lesser deaths or none at all would occur.

Local governments, including some cities and municipalities, have also not prepared yet their shelter plans for these people.

The former DILG secretary said that there are still much to be done in order to help the informal settlers in assisting them to have an affordable decent house in the country for it is inappropriate to demolish without following the guidelines as enumerated in the law.

Lina pointed out that it is also unjust for private landowners to lose their property to settlers saying that it is really government’s responsibility to ensure that families have decent housing.

Meanwhile, Lina said that he is not closing his doors on the possibility of running again for the senate.

“It is not a closed option to run for the senate. There are still possibilities but I’m not yet having certain plans regarding that matter because doing advocacy work for fully implementing the law is my priority as of now”, he said.

Lina is heard at DzMM’s Sagot Ko ‘Yan! every Sunday at 7:30 – 9 o’clock in the morning. (FREEMAN)