Article # 3

Who cares for the homeless?

Published November 18, 2022, 12:05 AM
by Manila Bulletin

“An investment in housing is an investment in family stability, children’s success, and the economic
health of our entire state.” Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont once stated this to underscore the
importance of investing in his state’s shelter program.

So when Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose
Rizalino Acuzar bared last month the government’s ambitious plan to build at least one million
housing units annually for the next six years, Lamont’s statement could have been in his mind.

“Housing greatly improves the quality of life for our people and also plays an important role in
safeguarding the health of our citizens during the pandemic, especially for vulnerable households
living in highly dense communities,” Acuzar told the Senate during last month’s hearing on the
proposed 2023 budget of the DHSUD.

With a housing backlog of 6.5 million, the government’s plan is a bit of good news.
But is it doable? It depends on funding support. If the success of this lofty objective is gauged by the
DHSUD’s proposed 2023 budget, then the government’s housing program is bound to fail.

The DHSUD had sought ₱95 billion budget for 2023, but the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM) allocated only ₱3.95 billion. This is about four percent of what was sought for and almost half
of its current budget of ₱7.61 billion.

The ₱3.95-billion budget is broken down as follows: DHSUD, ₱1.043 billion; Human Settlements
Adjudication Commission, ₱409 million; National Housing Authority (NHA), ₱2 billion; and Social
Housing Finance Corporation, ₱500 million. No budget was allocated to the National Home Mortgage
Finance Corporation.

With this measly budget, will the DHSUD be able to deliver the one million housing units annually?
Just imagine.

In 2018, the Housing and Urban Development Council, the forerunner of the DHSUD, passed two
resolutions — setting the price ceiling of socialized housing in subdivisions and condominiums.
For socialized subdivision projects, price ceiling for single-detached housing, duplex and single-
attached housing and row houses ranges from ₱480,000 to ₱580,000.

For socialized condominium projects, it ranges from ₱600,000 to ₱750,000, depending on the size and
location. For the National Capital Region, and selected highly urbanized cities and municipalities, the
ceiling is ₱700,000 to ₱750,000.

We can’t second-guess the DBM’s objective in allocating a measly budget for the DHSUD despite the
shelter agency’s huge responsibility of undertaking the state’s mandate of providing a housing
program for the underprivileged and the homeless.

With the projected cost of socialized housing, it is unlikely that the DHSUD can deliver one million
housing units, at least for 2023. So unless something is done with the budget, Acuzar fears the
housing backlog may balloon to 10.9 million by 2028.

Not only this. The NHA, with only ₱2 billion budget in 2023, faces the prospects of lawsuits if it fails
to pay the ₱36 billion it owes in its shelter projects next year. NHA general manager Joeben Tai had
told the Senate committee during the budget hearing that the ₱36 billion was obligated three to five
years ago. Article # 4
Why COP27 matters to PH now more than ever
Published November 9, 2022, 12:05 AM
by  Manila Bulletin

Many Filipinos will wake up today not knowing that in a place called Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, a
very important two-week event called COP 27 has started, shaping up as perhaps the most
consequential gathering of world leaders that will determine the future of this planet and the lives of
the most vulnerable. The 110-million plus Filipinos, ironically, are part of this most vulnerable
segment. And yet, again, majority of us are not even aware of COP27, which has far-reaching
consequences, especially to the future generations.

COP27, short for Conference of Parties, is the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference. It
opened last Nov. 6, 2022 and will conclude on Nov. 18. The Philippine contingent, composed of
members from Congress, various departments, and environmental groups, is led by Environment
Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

During the opening remarks given by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, he
signaled that a “new era begins and we begin to do things differently.” “Paris (COP21) gave us the
agreement. Katowice (COP24) and Glasgow (COP26) gave us the plan. Sharm El-Sheikh (COP27)
shifts us to implementation. No one can be a mere passenger on this journey. This is the signal that
times have changed,” Stiell said.

This opening couldn’t be more appropriate as this year’s UN Climate Conference opens against a
backdrop of extreme weather events worldwide, an energy crisis propelled by the war in Ukraine, and
scientific data reiterating that the world is not doing enough to tackle carbon emissions and protect
the future of the planet. We don’t need to look far to feel this climate crisis, as the country is still
reeling from the devastating impact of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

The importance of COP cannot be stressed further enough as it is not only the biggest and most
important annual climate-related conference, but it brings together presidents, prime ministers, CEOs,
climate advocates, scientists, researchers, media, etc. in one forum to do something concrete and
immediate to address climate change. In the words of Stiell, plans are already done; it is now time for
action.

“The heart of implementation is ‘everybody, everywhere in the world, every single day, doing
everything they possibly can to address the climate crisis,’” said Stiell.

“There are those that are going forward, further, and faster than everyone else. These are examples to
be followed. There are those who just need to be nudged into taking further action, to go beyond
business-as-usual. There are others who need support so they’re able to do everything they possibly
can for their countries and communities. And then there are those who still refuse to act unless others
do. They will not be allowed to slow down our collective response. Let’s not let positioning block
progress. All of us have to do everything we are capable of doing.”

The opening of the COP27 bodes well as a lot of nations have recognized the urgency to address the
climate crisis. Our country’s representatives will assert the call for bolder climate action and demand
the delivery of what is due for developing countries. “(We) hardly produce any greenhouse gas
emissions, yet (we) suffer the most and continue to bear the brunt of the adverse impacts of climate
change,” said Loyzaga.

As the days go by for COP27, we wait in anticipation for the outcome of various high-level meetings
and negotiations. Will we be at the losing end? Or are we able to bargain well for the sake of the
nation’s future? We only have high hopes for COP27.