Sunday, February 17, 2019

Duterte urged: Veto bill creating human settlements department

Urban-poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) on Sunday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the bill that seeks to consolidate all housing agencies into a new Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

In an emailed statement on Sunday, Kadamay said the proposal to consolidate housing agencies into one would lead to unemployment issues for government employees, and would give DHSUD a monopoly on power.

"This will cause massive layoffs of government employees while the DHSUD itself will gain unprecedented powers counter to the benefit of the poor," the statement read.

"Tiyak na mapanganib ang panukalang DHSUD. Iisang ahensya na lamang ang magtatakda ng lahat ng demolisyon sa buong bansa. May kapangyarihan ding basta na lamang itaas ang singil ng amortisasyon sa pabahay," said Gloria "Ka Bea" Arellano.

In November,  the Senate ratified the reconciled version of the bill, which would effectively create the DHSUD that will primarily be focused on the access to and affordability of decent and secure shelter.

According to Kadamay, part of the DHSUD's powers would be to increase the amortization fees in relocation areas every two years, based on what it deems to be the prevailing economic condition.

"Dapat hindi ituloy ang DHSUD. Ibasura siya at sa halip ay baguhin ang oryentasyon ng housing policies. Imbes na panay demolisyon at dagdag singil, dapat gawing abot-kaya at pang-masang pabahay," said Arellano.

The group also flagged that the proposed law would allow foreign investors to take a larger role in reshaping the urban landscape.

"Alinsunod sa Build Build Build, papadulasin ang pagpasok ng mga korporasyon mula sa China halimbawa na siyang makikinabang sa kalunsuran natin. Habang demolisyon naman ang haharapin ng mga mahihirap," it said.

While Kadamay said it was not confident that the President would veto the proposed bill, it said it will continue to oppose the DHSUD.

In March 2017,  1,000 members of the militant urban poor workers' group illegally occupied 419 housing units in Pandi Residences 3 in Bulacan where they put up barricades and placards saying the housing project is free and for the masses.

In response, Duterte told soldiers and police — the supposed beneficiaries of the housing units — to give up their housing units to the Kadamay. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/LBG GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/685207/duterte-urged-veto-bill-creating-human-settlements-department/story