Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday criticized the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) over its condominium housing project, which she said will benefit the middle class and not poor families.

Villar made the remark during the Senate plenary deliberations on the DHSUD’s proposed 2025 national budget, during which the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) housing program was discussed. The 4PH is the flagship housing project of the Marcos administration that aims to build 3.2 million units by 2028.

The lawmaker, whose family is in the real estate business, stressed that the mandate of the DHSUD is to provide housing projects to the poor and homeless.

She cited the alleged situation in Las Piñas, where she said the homeless and poor are encouraged to take advantage of DHSUD’s condominium-style housing project, instead of providing them with land to build their homes across the Community Mortgage Program (CMP).

“Why are you prioritizing 3.2 million middle-class housing units when your mandate is to help the poor and homeless?” » asked Villar.

According to Villar, those who were offered a condominium-style housing project will have to pay P4,000 per month. This, she said, is more costly than the P500 per month amortization under the CMP.

“The poor and the homeless can afford it (CMP), even the tricycle driver and the people of Palengke. But now they prioritize the condominium, the condominium mahal. It is for the middle class, it is not for the poor. Tapos paalisin nila sa doon sa lupa ang poor (at) lalagyan nila ng condominium, saan nila dadalhin ‘yung poor?” she added.

(The poor and homeless can afford CMP, even the tricycle driver and market vendors. But now they prioritize condominium, which is expensive. It’s for the middle class, it doesn’t is not for the poor. Then they will evict the poor from the lots where they will build the co-ownership.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is defending the DHSUD’s proposed budget, said the condominium housing project is paid only P2,600 per month and can go down to P1,500 per month if the subsidy of Depreciation is handled in partnership with the local government. unit.

“The secretary of state said there are people who are taking care of the informal settlers who are taking care of the property, halimbawa, a medium-sized condominium, which is also a landlord,” Hontiveros added.

(The secretary said the mid-rise condominiums will be built on the land where the informal settlers are currently located. It will also be the informal settlers who occupy them.)

Villar nevertheless insisted that the condominium housing project should not be a priority.

“Hindi don’t have the means, eh. Why do you insist on building them condominiums when you can distribute the land to them? P500 per month for the price. Why do you insist on building condominiums? Dahil kikita ka sa contractor of co-ownership in May porsyento ka roon kaya ini-insist mo ‘yung condominium? asked Villar.

(They can’t afford it. Why will you insist on building them condominiums when you can distribute the land to them? If you give them the land, they will only have to pay P500 per month. Why will you insist you to build condominiums because the entrepreneurs will benefit from it and receive bribes on its construction?)

“I don’t think it’s practical…why not distribute the land under the P500 per month community mortgage program? Bakit ayaw niyo ‘yun?” she added.

(I don’t think it’s practical…why not distribute the land under the community mortgage program which only costs P500 per month? Why don’t you want that?)

Hontiveros said previous “proven programs” such as CMP would not be abandoned with DHSUD’s new 4PH program.

“There are tried, tried and tested components for CMP, sustainment and then you can see if new ideas like the 4PH in Ngayon can ensure that the government will meet your housing needs,” he said. Hontiveros said.

(We will maintain these tried and tested components like CMP. Let’s maintain them. Then you can see if new ideas like 4PH could help meet our housing needs.)

Plenary approval of the DHSUD budget was delayed after Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said there were other issues senators would like to raise with the department.

The continuation of deliberations on the DHSUD budget is set for November 18. — VDV, GMA Integrated news