SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon lamented the huge cut in the housing sector's 2018 budget, saying housing backlog is expected to reach six million units by 2022 if not properly addressed.
Drilon proposed to use the "excess fats" in the planned P3.77 trillion 2018 national budget to address the current 1.2 million units housing backlog in the country.
During the interpellation of the budget of the housing sector on Tuesday, Drilon called the proposed P4.4 billion for 2018, which is 70 percent lower than its P15.3 billion budget in 2017, an "injustice" to the housing sector.
The Senate Minority Leader said that budgetary support is crucial in addressing "the poorest sector of our society" and the huge budget cut is the "wrong policy thrust."
"This is criminal neglect if we look at the budget of the housing sector," Drilon said.
Senator JV Ejercito, who sponsored the budget of the National Housing Authority (NHA), cited the agency's alleged low absorptive capacity as a reason for the decrease, as proposed by the Department of Budget and Management in the 2018 national budget.
However, Drilon disagreed with the justification.
"The absorptive capacity of the NHA is being blamed for this refusal by the economic managers to provide sufficient budget for the housing sector. We should not let our people suffer from these alleged inefficiencies of a bureaucracy, which is even open to question," he said.
Ejercito revealed that red tape is the prime reason why many Filipinos are having difficulties in getting their own home citing the fact that there are several approvals that needs to be submitted by an applicant before he can avail of the so-called "pabahay" under the Housing on Urban Coordinating Council as well as the approval for the developers.
In an interview, Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara said it is high time to solve and reduce the so-called red tape that has been hampering the services of the government for the people.
He also cited the social services, like health centers and classrooms, which should be extended to the poor families who will be relocated to far-flung communities.
"We should think of ourselves as not just building houses but we're actually building communities of actual people. Each one deserves a place under the sun," Angara maintained.
Ejercito then placed on record that NHA has obligated 85 percent of its funds in 2016, contrary to claims that the agency has low absorptive capacity.
In order for the NHA to maximize their funds for the production of housing units, Ejercito proposed for a special provision that would enable NHA's fund utilization to be extended for two more years which will give NHA elbow room of three years to fully use their funds.
"I believe this would be more fair and practical for the NHA since the process in constructing housing units usually takes too long. This bureaucratic process is the reason why NHA’s funds cannot be disbursed within one year," Ejercito said.
Drilon said that that "social problems will just continue to worsen if we continue to commit criminal neglect in our treatment of the housing sector."
The housing backlog is expected to reach six million by 2022, he said.
"With that kind of backlog, why are we not providing enough resources to our housing sector?" asked Drilon.
He asked the committee as well as the chamber to restore the proposed budget of the housing sector for next year to its current level.
He said funds could be sourced from the "excess fats" and unproductive items in the proposed 2018 budget, citing, for instance, the budget for intelligence funds, which, he added, amounts to P3.7 billion, has grown tremendously in this administration.
The minority leader likewise emphasized the importance of housing as an economic tool, which has the highest multiplier effect on the economy.
"From the social point of view, housing is very important. From the economic point of view, it is very beneficial," he concluded.
In July 2016, Drilon filed Senate Bill 232 that seeks to create the Department of Housing and Urban Development, envisioned to be a "one stop shop for the homeless." (VoxPop Philippines)