Senator Manny Pacquiao stated on Wednesday, Sept. 8, that he will continue to advocate for his housing dream for over 10 million informal settlers and families.
Pacquiao, who has yet to reveal his plans for the May 2022 national elections, said in a virtual press conference that he believes the government can offer free homes for the 1.9 million informal settler families in four to five years.
“Ito pong pabahay ko, hindi po ito imposible; possible po lahat itong sinasabi ko. Alisin lang po natin yung greediness sa puso natin. In three years, lahat yan magkakaroon ng sariling tahanan. Wala pong babayaran (This housing dream, it’s not impossible; everything I said is possible. Let’s just remove the greediness in our hearts. In three years, everyone can have their own homes. They won’t have to pay anything),”
Pacquiao said.
He stated that this is a realistic estimate in order to avoid being labelled a liar. He stated that once corruption is eradicated, the government will be able to efficiently provide shelter for the country’s homeless.
“Kapag magkaroon ang isang pamilya ng sariling bahay, ma-encourage sila mag-trabaho. Hindi na mag-iisip kung ano pa gagawin, kung hindi maghanap-buhay (If families have their own houses, they would be encouraged to work, they have nothing to worry about but just find means for livelihood),”
he asserted.
“Sa akin, estimate ko three to four years, pero sinabi ko na lang three to five years para di ako maging sinunggaling. Nagsisimula ang maayos na lipunan mula sa maayos na tahanan, (I made an estimate of three to four years, but I made it three to five years so I won’t be told a liar. An orderly society society starts through an orderly home),”
the lawmaker added.
He also stated that combating corruption is his top advocacy since he feels it is one way to keep a nation’s peace, order, and prosperity.
“Tulungan nyo po ako mag sama-sama tayo para sugpuin ang corruption, mapakulong at makita natin na magsama sama sa kulungan ang mga corrupt (Please help me and let’s band together to stop corruption and to put to jail and watch these corrupt politicians go to jail),”
he said.
When asked how he plans to sustain a housing program without forcing informal settler recipients to take advantage of it and sell their homes, Pacquiao claimed he has already devised a method to ensure they do not do so.
He also stated that his housing initiative extends to people who are currently renting. Pacquiao stated, citing government data, that there are around 1.9 million informal settlers, with 25 percent of them residing in Metro Manila, and that there are 6.7 million families that continue to rent dwellings.
“Yan po ang target natin. Uunahin po antin yung mga informal settlers para magkaroon ng sariling tahanan (That’s our target. We will prioritize informal settlers have their own homes),”
Pacquiao denoted.
| Manila Bulletin