Senator Christopher “Bong” Go welcomed the Senate’s approval of a package of housing measures aimed at expanding socialized housing, providing rental assistance to displaced families and freeing qualified calamity survivors from outstanding government housing obligations.
Three measures supported by Go secured final Senate approval on Thursday, October 8, addressing different stages of the country’s housing problem — from securing land for socialized housing, to providing temporary rental assistance, to helping disaster-stricken families finally own the homes awarded to them without being weighed down by old debts.
Go is a co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1992, which seeks to strengthen the government’s capacity to implement socialized housing projects by improving and rationalizing land acquisition and utilization.
The measure amends provisions of Republic Act No. 7279, or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, and seeks to address one of the persistent obstacles to government housing production — identifying land that is actually suitable and available for socialized housing.
Under the proposed reforms, concerned government agencies and local governments would strengthen the identification and inventory of potential housing sites while considering their suitability for residential development, access to basic services and employment, and exposure to natural hazards.
Go has repeatedly raised the need for a stronger national housing response, particularly for low-income Filipinos who continue to live in informal settlements or unsafe and congested communities.
During recent budget deliberations, he lamented the relatively limited resources devoted to housing despite the scale of the problem and urged housing agencies to make full use of their funds.
He has likewise stressed his aspiration that Filipinos should eventually have access to decent shelter in their own country.
Complementing the socialized housing measure is Senate Bill No. 2503, which institutionalizes a Rental Housing Subsidy Program. Go is the principal author and a co-sponsor of the measure.
The proposal is intended to provide transitional housing support to qualified families who lose their homes because of disasters, eviction, government infrastructure projects and other circumstances while they await permanent housing or relocation.
Under the bill, the amount of assistance would consider prevailing rental rates, household needs and the family’s financial capacity and cannot exceed the actual cost of rent. Assistance may be provided through direct payment to landlords or rental vouchers and may initially be extended for up to three years, subject to continued eligibility.
Go has pushed versions of the rental subsidy proposal for several Congresses, arguing that displaced families need a safe place to stay while permanent housing solutions are being arranged.
The third measure, Senate Bill No. 2508, seeks to emancipate qualified calamity survivors from outstanding housing obligations. Go is an author of the measure.
The proposed Residential Emancipation for Calamity Survivors Act would condone covered obligations including principal balances, unpaid amortizations, interest, penalties and surcharges for qualified beneficiaries of calamity housing programs.
“For families who have already lost their homes, livelihoods and sources of income because of calamities, we should not allow housing debt to become another burden,” Go said following the Senate’s approval of the measure.
The bill covers approximately ₱9.55 billion in housing obligations under the National Housing Authority’s Assistance Program for Calamity Victims, according to information presented during Senate deliberations.
It also provides for Certificates of Condonation that would release mortgages on covered housing units and contains mechanisms to restore rights to certain qualified beneficiaries whose awards had been forfeited solely because of non-payment.
Go said disaster victims already face enormous difficulty rebuilding their homes and livelihoods and should be given every reasonable opportunity to recover.
His broader housing agenda also includes Senate Bill No. 685, which seeks to establish a National Housing Development, Production and Financing Program with sustained financing and stronger coordination among key shelter agencies.
Go has also consistently supported the National Housing Authority’s Emergency Housing Assistance Program and is the principal author and co-sponsor of Republic Act No. 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which mandates permanent evacuation centers nationwide.
For Go, the three Senate-approved measures address interconnected problems: government needs appropriate land on which to build socialized housing, displaced families need temporary shelter while waiting for permanent homes, and calamity survivors should not spend years carrying debts attached to government housing assistance.
He reiterated his support for housing programs that make safe and decent shelter more attainable for ordinary Filipinos, particularly poor families and those attempting to rebuild after disasters.
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