Robredo: I will help 93-1 beneficiaries

CEBU, Philippines - In her first visit to Cebu since being elected as second highest leader of the country, Vice President Leni Robredo promised to help the beneficiaries of Cebu Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

Robredo went to Barangay Luz, Cebu City yesterday and promised that as chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, she would help occupants of Capitol-owned lots in the city covered by the ordinance in any way she can, although her participation would not be as active as the local government unit concerned.

"Hindi actively involved gaya ng parehong magnitude ng LGU pero nandito si Mayor Tommy Osmeña. Pero sa akin, dahil housing ito, lahat ng puwedeng itulong, itutulong," she said.

She said that right now there are several problems surrounding the 93-1 issue and all she wants is to first streamline the process.

"Sa ngayon kasi sobrang dami pa ng problema. Bago namin galawin ang mga individual controversies sa mga projects, gusto muna naming i-streamline ang mga proseso para umaandar na siya lahat," she said.

Robredo said that is one of the reasons of her visit to Cebu, where they had a symbolic signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between HUDCC, the Socialized Housing Finance Corporation, and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board to cut down documentary requirements from 27 to nine.

The vice president said that the average length for socialized housing applications is two years, but under her leadership at the housing board, she wanted to lower this to 15 to 30 days only.

Aside from this, Robredo said she wants that all government agencies that have something to do with housing, like the National Housing Authority, Home Mutual Development Fund or Pag-IBIG, and other mortgage agencies, to be part in the socialized housing loan applications.

"Para sa lahat mag-apply, pumupunta na lang sa HUDCC, HUDCC na lang iyong government to government hindi na iyong gagastosan masyado ng mga nag-a-apply," said Robredo.

She said she wants to establish a one-stop shop for those who want to invest in socialized housing projects.

“Kasi ngayon ang sinasabi ng karamihan, nawawalan sila ng ganang pumasok sa socialized housing kasi hindi business-friendly ang proseso. Bago sila mabigyan ng permit, two years minsan four years kaya ngayon gagawa kami ng bagong one-stop shop, iyong pinakamaiksi na time na pag-asikaso," she said.

She further said that HUDCC should come up with a Citizen’s Charter for all the housing sectors, wherein all services like fees, requirements, and processing are there.

She said they targeted to have this Citizen's Charter within the year

Aside from this, Robredo also spoke at a forum with the various officials in Cebu province organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and partner non-government agencies, wherein she talked about various aspects of good governance and good practices.

Robredo also attended an event organized by the Filipina Women's Network. (FREEMAN)