The
Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP) is
pushing for the inclusion of the condominium as a socialized housing project
through an amendment in Republic Act 7279, paving the way for socialized
housing condominiums.
Under
the law, socialized housing referred to “housing programs and projects covering
houses and lots or home lots only, undertaken by the Government or the private
sector for the underprivileged and homeless citizens.”
“Housing
for the poor remains sluggish and if the Aquino administration wants to address
this problem and provide safer and disaster-resilient communities for the
marginalized sector then this will be a significant legislation,” OSHDP President
Atty. Ryan T. Tan told BusinessWorld during the second day of the OSHDP and
HUDCC 4th national Convention held at Marco Polo Hotel.
Mr.
Tan said housing problems in the country remain huge, with 600,000 informal
settler families all over the country and 104,000 in NCR alone. The need for
housing is also increasing faster than actual production of housing units, he
added.
He
said amending the law will encourage private sector developers to build 5-story
socialized housing condominiums that can house hundreds of people compared to
only a few families that occupy horizontal housing developments. With buildings
or condominiums included in RA 7279, private sector developers will be able to
build socialized housing condominiums and include them as their compliance
under Section 18 which requires developers to allocate 20% of their project
area or project cost to socialize housing.
“Private
sector developers will also be able to enjoy the tax exemptions once socialized
housing condominiums are included in the law,” he said.
Mr.
Tan said such legislation is very timely because climate change has compelled
the government to do something about the informal sectors especially in Metro Manila. Providing incentives to private developers
has a social benefit because it will give the government an option when it
comes to relocating the informal sectors living near the waterways and in
esteros, he said.
By
now, he said, it is obvious that relocating the informal sector outside of
Manila is not working because they just flock back to Mania and sell the land
or home lots awarded to them. In-city or on-site development for urban centers is
the way to go, he added.
He
said lots in Manila and in other major cities are expensive but somehow,
private developers will be able to lower the cost with socialized housing
condominiums.
OSHDP
has submitted its proposal to HUDCC and is willing to initiate the filing of
the proposed bill that will not only make condominiums more affordable to the
marginalized sector but will also help the government solve its problem on the
informal sector.
Engr.
Carol R. Angel, Regional Manager of the National Housing Authority, said they
are supporting OSHDP’s move because this will greatly benefit not only Metro
Manila but also urban areas like Davao where there are no socialized or even
lost cost condominiums.
“Low
income earners do not want to be relocated far from their workplace because
that will be double expenses for them in terms of living allowance or
transportation cost,” she said.
