Housing programs for govt employees urged

VICE President Jejomar Binay, also the country’s housing czar, on Wednesday urged for the implementation of a housing program for government employees.

Binay, in a letter to President Benigno Aquino 3rd, said while the government has been providing housing opportunities for informal settlers and poor dwellers, many government personnel are still homeless.

The Vice President said that there are about 1.3 million government employees, who under the existing laws are eligible for housing loans.

“Only a small percentage of government employees have availed of the said loans because the existing housing options, especially those in Metro Manila, are not affordable. Also, low-income government employees find it difficult to access and comply with the requirements needed,” Binay said.

“This housing program would strengthen HUDCC’s [Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council] existing mandates to provide for institutional or government employees’ housing. This is aligned with HUDCC’s new thrust to assist and guide government agencies and local government units in the conceptualization and implementation of housing projects for their employees and is consistent with our mandate to provide housing for the homeless,” he added.

Binay is also the chairman of the HUDCC and a member of the board of trustees of the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig Fund).

The proposed housing program will direct all government departments and agencies to establish housing committees and conduct an in-house survey to determine their employees’ housing needs and financial capabilities.

It also directs all government agencies to submit to HUDCC the list of idle and underutilized government lands for the past 10 years as possible housing sites for their employees.

“Utilizing idle government properties for housing would make it easier for government agencies to provide housing for their employees and other qualified beneficiaries,” Binay said. –Bernice Camille V. Bauzon, Manila Times