Mar to Sen. Binay : I'm just doing my job

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Tuesday said he is  merely following the instructions of President Benigno Aquino III to provide decent housing to thousands of informal settlers in the country.

Reacting to the statements of Sen. Nancy Binay, questioning the P1.25 billion allocated to DILG for housing projects, Roxas also noted that based on the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, the local government units should take the lead in the task.

"Well, ginagawa lang natin ang utos ng Pangulo. Ayon sa UDHA law, local government ang dapat na manguna dito sa ating informal settlers at 'yun lang naman ang ginagawa natin," Roxas said in a radio interview.

He also noted that DILG is not directly involved in building the houses for the informal settlers but the National Housing Authority, LGUs or donor non-government organizations.

"Hindi naman kami nagpapagawa ng bahay e. Ang  LGUs mismo ang gumagawa o kaya NHA o kaya NGOs mismo ang gagawa. Itong  informal settlers natin kabahagi ito ng programa ng Pangulo para mailikas lahat itong ISF (informal settler family), mga informal settler natin na nakatira sa paligid ng mga daluyang tubig," Roxas said.

Roxas said he was surprised when the issue came about when the relocation and housing project for the informal settlers has been part of functions by the late DILG chief Jesse Robredo.

"Hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit may intriga dito. Sa laki ng problema eh gawin na lang ng lahat 'yung dapat nilang ginagawa.

"Tayo nakatutok tayo sa trabaho natin ...hindi naman issue ito nung unang sinimulan ito ng Pangulo nung si Sec.  Jess Robredo ang nakaupo sa DILG. Paano naging issue ito ngayon?" Roxas said.

Senator Binay is the daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the rival of Roxas  for the vice presidential post in  May 2010.