The Build, Better More (BBM) programs of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the socialized housing sector have improved significantly, which now have amenities that only the upper income class usually enjoy, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said on Tuesday.
“I’m happy because it turns out that we’re not just building a home for a Filipino family. There is a basketball court, swimming pool, clubhouse and other amenities that used to be seen only in subdivisions and condominiums,” Romualdez remarked during the inauguration of a housing project in San Mateo, Rizal.
“This is the dream of our President: To give Filipinos a decent place to live. To give them the right to live with dignity. May you all live in a peaceful and safe community,” he said.
In his speech at the site visit of Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Housing Project, the leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives said that there are 170,000 housing units being built in Metro Manila alone, and distributed among 55 locations.
“This is on top of the thousands of housing units being undertaken in Luzon, Visayas all the way to Mindanao, which includes the 20 ongoing projects currently in “various stages of construction and development,” according to Secretary Jerry Acuzar of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.
“This is the dream of our dear President: To provide housing for all Filipinos, to give them the dignity they deserve, for them to live a peaceful life in their chosen community where they have a decent livelihood and where everybody is safe from harm,” the Speaker said.
“Isa lamang ito sa napakaraming housing projects na ipinapatayo ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. sa buong bansa. Malinaw po ang utos ng Pangulo: Tiyakin na may sapat na pondo ang lahat ng proyekto at programang inilaan niya para sa ikabubuti ng mga Pilipino,” the Speaker said.
(This is just one of the many housing projects that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is building. throughout the country. The President’s order is clear: Make sure that all the projects and programs he has allocated for the good of the Filipinos have adequate funds)
Romualdez said the national government remains on track with their original target of building one million housing units every year until President Marcos’ six-year term in 2028 ends, so as to fill the housing gap, or the 6.5 million backlog in housing units.
“The beauty of this project is that we are doing ‘in-city resettlement’. That means, in which city you used to live, you will also find a house to move to. We do not alienate the family from their community. They are still close to their work and school,” he said
At the same time, the Speaker made assurances that Congress – having the power of the purse – will always make sure funds will be available to DHSUD’s projects, even if government financing institutions like Pag-ibig had pledged P250 billion for the BBM socialized housing programs.
“Expect that the Marcos administration will not only bring you Legacy Housing. He is also seeking funding from Congress to build world-class Legacy Hospitals such as the Philippine Cancer Center in Quezon City and Regional Specialty Hospitals in major cities in the Philippines. The dream of all of us is to extend the services of the Heart Center, Lung Center, Kidney Center and Cancer Center to every corner of the country,” the Speaker said.
“For food security, we also have what is called the Legacy Food Security program to help farmers increase their yield. We will also continue programs to give aid to those in need. Congress will not stop appropriating funds and making laws. We will do this to fulfill the dream of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. – to give every Filipino family an abundant tomorrow in a safe and peaceful country,” he added
As of May this year, Acuzar said Pag-ibig had already released about P761.5 million to private contractors who are now constructing the four 4PH programs in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, even as state-run banks like Land Bank and state pension funds GSIS and SSS made similar assurances.
