VP NOLI SAYS HOUSING SECTOR 'SCORED POINTS'VS POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS
September 30, 2008

Vice President and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) concurrent chairman Noli 'Kabayan' De Castro hailed the housing sector for 'scoring' points against poverty and homelessness in the country.

Speaking during the national convention of the NREA-HUDCC at the Makati Sports Club in Makati last week (September 24), De Castro said huge points were earned by the sector in providing shelter security and decent and affordable houses to Filipino families.

In 2007, De Castro said over 153,000 families attained shelter security or became homeowners through the various housing programs of the government.

"For the first half of the year, we added over 48,000 more," he added.

Further, De Castro said housing scored against poverty by generating more jobs for the people. He said the sector was able to create jobs for over one million workers through the construction of over 143,000 housing units.

"This is not to mention the multiplier effect of housing and what it contributes to the economy," he said.

De Castro attributed these positive development in housing to how the housing sector fought poverty and homelessness.

Like in boxing, he said, speed, strenght and sharpness of the housing programs and policies of the government and the private sector enabled the sector to score points against the two major poblems.

"It scored big that despite the financial turmoil in the US, housing in the Philippines remains healthy,' he said.

Reflecting how the government fought is President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's decision to massively dispose idle government properties.

Since 2001, around 108 proclamations and executive orders were signed by the president so that the 26,450 hectare idle properties of the government can be distributed to poor families, thus paving the way for them to gain their much awaited shelter security.

To strengthen their security of tenure, HUDCC is speeding up the pro-proclamation activities, he said.

Since 2001, 43,179 families have received certificates of lot award or CELA.

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