Leni backs Rody’s ‘no relocation, no demolition’ policy

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo is supporting President Duterte’s “no relocation, no demolition” policy for informal settlers.

Robredo, chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said she has long advocated for safe and sustainable housing for Filipinos.

“Relocation sites should be areas where residents may have livelihood options and access to jobs and schools,” she said yesterday.

The Vice President noted that many poor families were relocated to inhabitable and unsustainable areas.

Earlier, Duterte said shanties of informal settlers would not be demolished until the government finds a suitable relocation site for them.

“During my time, there will be no demolition if there is no relocation. I won’t let it happen,” the President said.

Robredo said she is planning to follow the housing program of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) as a model for her projects as head of the HUDCC.

In a recent meeting with INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo, Robredo disclosed her plan to visit the church’s resettlement sites, particularly its eco-farming projects in Leyte, Agusan del Sur and Oriental Mindoro, to see if these could be replicated in other parts of the country.

“I want to visit one of the INC resettlement sites soon,” Robredo told Manalo during a visit at the INC central office in Quezon City.

Robredo also said she would implement programs aimed at reducing the 1.4-million housing backlog and construct additional 5.5 million houses.

The INC has numerous housing and livelihood projects as part of the church’s Lingap sa Mamamayan initiative, the INC’s outreach program.

According to INC general auditor Glicerio Santos Jr., the initiative was a year-round program providing material and spiritual help to Iglesia and non-Iglesia members.