Solving the housing shortage

FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY 
Ka Iking Seneres

As I suffered through the heat of the summer sun, I imagined how much suffering the homeless people are going through, definitely much more than I was going through. Every now and then, I am tempted to turn on the air conditioner, but not for too long, thinking that it will instead be my household budget that will suffer.

                I am happy to note that my house has a ceiling that will minimize the heat, but it is still really hot inside the house, and I could not imagine how hotter it could really be in a shanty with nothing in between the searing galvanized iron roof and the people inside.

                Finally, I have decided in my mind that the people who live in shanties are actually homeless, even if they live in a structure that could barely pass for a house. Just for the record, not all those who live in shanties are squatters, and vice versa, not all squatters live in shanties. I could empathize with all squatters because I grew up in a squatter area, and that is why I have no qualms about calling them as they really are, instead of the vague label “informal settlers”.

                I do not like the idea of giving fancy names to marginalized people, as if giving them a nicer name will already make it seem that their situation has gotten better.

                Vice President JejomarBinay has hit upon the perfect strategy of building low cost homes in government properties, particularly those that are owned by the local government units (LGUs). The beauty of this strategy could be seen in the fact that the LGUs are actually in the best position to acquire properties for housing, because they could do so even if they do not have much cash to work with.

                In exchange for the properties, the LGUs could give tax credits and discounts to the property owners. And even if they need to pay in cash, there are several government banks that are ready to give them soft loans that could be backed by their internal revenue allocations as collaterals.

Common sense will tell us that it is the cost of the lot that brings up the housing costs, and that is why building new homes in government properties is the sure fire formula for low cost housing.

                Compare that to the other formula of building new homes in private properties, wherein the quality of the houses has to be compromised in order to be able to pass it off as low cost housing. Mind you, the objective here is low cost, and not low quality. Sad to say, many developers have gotten away with selling houses that are low cost indeed, but are too low in quality, and too small in size.

                Using the strategy of Vice President Binay, the owner of a private property in Pasay City has donated their land to the Pasay City government, so that the first low cost condominium unit could be built on it.

                I was very fascinated with the idea of a pioneering low cost condo, and that is why I got very excited when I heard the news that the Vice President has right away decided to approve the project, giving it his total support.

                A meeting has been scheduled so that he could meet right away with the principals of Armadillo Holdings, the donor of the private property.

                Many owners of private properties that are occupied by squatters find themselves in a hopeless situation. They could not drive out the settlers, and they have no way of selling their lands. This is also the case of banks that own repossessed properties that they could not sell. They now have a chance to sell their properties to the government at a fair price, and on top of that, they will also have a chance to provide homes for the homeless.

                Nameless Faceless Servants (NFS) is the organization that is helping the Pasay residents by way of transforming their lives and preparing them for their transfer to their new condos. This is actually the magic formula, to start with the spiritual transformation, and to help them later on with their material needs.

                Aside from Pasay, NFS is also working in several other rural and urban locations. However, NFS member Howard Mijares thinks that their approach could be the best solution to urban renewal, inclusive of land use and community development.

For feedback, email iseneres@yahoo.com or text +639083159262