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@ Uonaay, U archL,2f/il9. Editor: Vittorio V Wtug
Govt told to use Metro Manila
lands for sociali zedhousing
By tovEE MARE N, DELA CRUZ t @Joveemarie
HE chairman of the House Committee
on Housing and Urban Development
said there aremore than 3,000hectares
ofland that couldbe usedby the newDepart-
mentof Human SettlementandUrban Devel-
opment (DHSUD) for socialized housing and
urban development.
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfedo Benitezsaid
these lands are located in Metro Metro Manila.
"Three thousand plus hectares of land
are all located in Metro Manila, and half of
these are idle. The majority of these lands
are owned by government centers in Quezon
City," Benitez told reporters.
Benitez said 1,234.85-hectare land is gov-
e(nment-ownedandcurrentlybeingoccupied
by informal settler families (ISFs), while the
2,185 -hectare public land is idle and ready for
housing programs.
"[Under the law creating the DHSUD] the
new housing department cannowacquire all
those governmentlands andfacilitate the dis-
position ofunusedproperties that are owned
by the government for socialized housing. We
needareasas theprime ingredientforsuccess-
ful housing program is land," he said. , readyin Clark, all other departments'admin-
Accordingto Benitez, housingneeds off ilipi-
nos couldballoon to 6.8 millionbefore President
Rodrigo Duterte's term ends in 2022. H{ said
at least 1 million units should be constructed
every year to address the country's backlogs.
Joint effqrt
BENITEZ said the government can tap the help
of private sector in addressing the country's
housing problems.
He said these lands or properties are "per-
fect sites" for government and private-sector
socialized housing programs.
"The private sector can now participate
through a joint venture and as codeveloper
of certai4 properties," he added.
Also, Benitez said the government should
push through with its plan of transferring
government offices to the provinces to spur
development while addressing the countryi
housing backlogs.
"Overpopulation, traffic congestion and
high vulnerability to natural disasters have
rnade Metro Manila or the National Capital
Region a pariah among world cities," he said.
"The Department of Transportation is al-
{ },Ag-a -A,t 4
istrative offices should also be relocated to
decongestMetro Manila. That's also the only
way to develop the countryside if we bring
government outside the capital," he added.
Accordingto Benitez, it is onlythe govern-
ment that can afford to go in ad area that is
not developed. He said medium-risebuildings
couldbe constructed in the areas that will be
vacated by these government agen.ies.
The lawmaker also stressed the need to
rethink and develop a master plan that will
decongest Metro Manila.
. Benitez noted that several countries that
relocated government agencies have flour-
ished. Tbese include South Korea, Malaysia
and Brazil.
"Relocation of capitals has already been
done by several countries. Malaysia, for in-
stance, built a new administrative capital to
easedecongestion in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya
is envisionedtobe'green' and'intelligent' city,
with wide parks and open spaces, and strong
ICT infrastructure. Its aesthetic design also
shows distinct Islarnic character to reflect
Malaysian identity and heritage as predomi-
nantly Muslirh country," he said.