Two lawmakers have denounced the zero allocation for mass housing in the proposed national budget for 2019 even as billions are being “parked” in several agencies including the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as “pork barrel funds.”“There is not a single centavo for the construction of mass housing units in the 2019 national budget despite the country’s 5.7 million housing backlog but there are billions allotted for pork barrel funds. ADVERTISEMENTShe was referring to the recent ruckus over the nearly P52-billion insertion in the proposed national budget which had been realigned to other DPWH projects and other state programs by the House. Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus, for her part, insisted that the nearly P52 billion “pork barrel funds,” which are supposed to be realigned to the DPWH, should instead be allocated for mass housing projects catering to poor families and to other social services. ADVERTISEMENTFor 2019, P360 million has been allocated for the NHA or P2.9 billion lower than its budget this year. Meanwhile, P1.8 billion is allotted as housing loans dispersed across the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, Home Guaranty Corporation, and Social Housing and Finance Corporation.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 21, 2018 08:41 UTC