ROXAS, AQUINO TO STUDY HOUSING BUDGET IN 2009 GAA

Senators Mar Roxas and Noynoy Aquino will be scrutinizing the allocation for housing in the 2009 national budget, to ensure that the government's housing programs are adequately funded and benefit those with the most need.

"Pasimula na yung budget season, at titingnan natin kung yung pera at mga programa na napakaloob sa ating budget ay angkop doon sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan dito," he said while visiting the housing site at the Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila, where he held dialogues with urban poor groups.

He stressed the need not just for adequate funding of housing programs, but for the political will necessary to implement them.

"Hindi naman malaki ang pera na kinakailangan dito. Yung atensyon lang, yung commitment, at saka yung political will na gawin kung ano ang tama," he said, noting that the residents in Baseco were concerned that they would be forced to relocate if the land is discovered to be untenable.

During the budget hearings, he said, he would inspect what programs were promised but never delivered in Baseco.

"May P300-milyong reclamation project doon sa may dagat, pero yung kalye, sanitation at sewage dito sa loob ay hindi maayos. Bakit hindi ayusin yung kasalukuyang problema na ito?" he said.

"Ang importante, ginagawa natin ang aming trabaho, ang pakikipag-ugnay ng national budget na trilyun-trilyon. Yung trabaho sa budget, maiugnay namin sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan at pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan dito," he added.