Homeless Pinoys swell to 4.3 M nationwide

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — There are now some 4.3 million homeless families throughout the country and the government needs P50 billion annually to be able to provide them with housing in the next 10 years.

This was revealed yesterday by National Housing Authority (NHA) general manager Edgardo Pamintuan who said that without money, the country’s millions of homeless people would remain without a roof over their heads.

"We don’t have the money, but we are confident that we would be able to accomplish our objectives with the support of the private sector," he said.

Pamintuan noted that President Arroyo has asked the NHA to complete no less than 37,000 low cost housing units for the homeless families this year.

"Initially, the target was to provide for 70,000 families, but this had to be lowered since we are already in the middle of the year," said Pamintuan’s assistant Joseph Peter Sison.

Pamintuan said that the NHA is working for joint venture with the Habitat for Humanity Philippines for low cost housing projects throughout the country.

The HHP, established by former United States president Jimmy Carter, has affiliates worldwide which could support the NHA’s housing programs.

Pamintuan also bared changes in the NHA’s approach to its housing programs under its new corporate slogan, "Panday Bahay, Panday Buhay."

"This slogan reflects our objective to provide not only affordable housing to the homeless but also to see to it that they are provided livelihood and basic community needs where they would be relocated," he explained.

The NHA has asked Mrs. Arroyo to consider allocating for housing half of some P37 billion annual government subsidy for the National Power Corp. (Napocor) which would be privatized under the recently passed Omnibus Power Reform Law.

According to Pamintuan, the President seemed supportive of the NHA’s proposal.

Meanwhile, the President has asked the NHA to immediately build houses for some 4,900 families living along esteros and other waterways in Metro Manila.

"We are doing our best to finish as many housing units as possible, as there are only 1,800 housing units available for the families in Metro Manila. What the President wanted was for us to relocate some 4,900 of the families before the heavy rains come," Pamintuan said.

Pamintuan said that another 3,200 housing units would be needed to comply with the President’s directive to resettle 4,900 families living along waterways in Metro Manila.

"This would need some P284 million for the housing units, and another P290 million for relocation operations and social services for them at the relocation sites," Pamintuan said.

He said that of the total 16,000 families living along waterways, some 5,000 are along the Pasig river.

Since Pamintuan assumed post as NHA chief two months ago, some 114 homeless families from various parts of Metro Manila have been moved to medium rise housing. "But our objective is to provide housing to some 37,000 homeless families within this year," he said.