House approves socialized housing projects bill
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The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure converting government
lands into socialized housing projects for poor Filipinos to address the country’s housing problem.
“Our country is fast running out of available residential lands for its huge and ever-increasing population,” said
Rep. Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa), author of House Bill 6973.
The bill mandates the Local Government Units (LGUs) to identify, set aside and undertake the development of
all local government-owned lands suitable for socialized housing projects for the underprivileged and
homeless citizens.
Under the bill, all government lands which have not been used for the past ten years shall be set aside for
socialized housing, as identified by the National Housing Authority (NHA) in coordination with the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Biazon said all lands owned by the national government identified for socialized housing shall immediately be
transferred to the NHA to be set aside for the purpose, subject to the approval of the President of the
Philippines.
“Whenever a government owned land is sold in favor of private individuals or entities for industrial,
commercial development, at least twenty percent of the proceeds shall be set aside for socialized housing,
adjacent to the affected areas or in nearby areas within the city or municipality,” Biazon said.
“For a land owned by an LGU, the segregated land or fund shall be retained by the LGU concerned to be
utilized exclusively for its socialized housing projects,” said Rep. Eric D, Singson (2nd District, Ilocos Sur), co-
author of the bill.
Once enacted into law, the NHA and the LGU concerned may enter into joint venture agreement or similar
arrangements with private developers or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in housing
production provided the cost of land shall be excluded.
The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the DENR are hereby directed to
promulgate the rules and regulations provided the National Urban Development and Housing Framework
described in Republic Act 7279 shall be taken into consideration.
Co authors of the bill are, Reps. Marcelino R. Teodoro R. Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City), Datu Pax S.
Mangudadatu (1st District, Sultan Kudarat), Roger G. Mercado (Lone District, Southern Leyte), Monico O.
Puentevella (Lone District, Bacolod City), Ma. Rachel J. Arenas (3rd District, Pangasinan), Neptali M. Gonzales
(Lone District, Mandaluyong), Del R. De Guzman (2nd District, Marikina City), Raul V. Del Mar (1st District,
Cebu City), Ignacio “Iggy” T. Arroyo (5th District, Negros Occidental), Rodolfo G. Valencia (1st District,
Oriental Mindoro), Candido P. Pancrudo, Jr. (1st District, Bukidnon), Isidro T. Ungab (3rd District, Davao City),
Carlos M. Padilla (Lone District, Nueva Vizcaya), Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro),
Luzviminda C. Ilagan (Party-List, Gabriela) and Raymond V. Palatino (Party-list KABATAAN.
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MAZA SUPPORTS STUDENTS AGAINST PUP'S 2,000% TUITION HIKE
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Nacionalista-Makabayan senatorial candidate and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza today supported the walk-out of
students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines to decry the proposed almost 2,000 percent tuition
increase in the University.
“PUP is the only national state university which has the lowest rate of tuition. With the proposed increase, the
government is denying the right of the children of poor peasants and workers to education,” Maza asserted.
The proposed tuition hike will affect 50,000 new enrollees next year. The PUP Board of Regents is expected to
discuss the said proposal in a meeting on March 29.
The Gabriela solon said that this move is being done parallel to the reduction of state subsidy for the
University, from its 2009 budget at P704M to P661M in 2010.
“I am appealing to the PUP Board of Regents to recognize the right of the students to accessible education
and junk the proposed tuition increase,” Maza said.
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I NEVER BLAMED THE MARCOS CHILDREN FOR MY FATHER’S MURDER – AQUINO
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LAOAG CITY – Senator Noynoy Aquino on Thursday said he has never blamed the children of the late former
President Ferdinand Marcos for the assassination of his father, Sen. Benigno Aquino, Jr., almost 27 years
ago. “I think I said it publicly 12 years ago, di ko tinuturing si Imee, Irene o Bongbong ang may kasalanan.
Sabihin na nating parepareho kaming nabiktima ng pagkakataon noong panahon na yon,” he said in an
interview upon his arrival at the airport here.
“Ang sa tatay ko, ang habol lang natin, if at all, ay ang magkaroon ng tamang aral para ang pangyayari ay di na
maulit,” Aquino said.
Besides, he said there is a 20-year prescription period for murder, making it hard to determine if it is
technically possible to reopen the case. “Pero yung sa akin, di tayo namemersonal (In my case, I hold no
personal grudges),” he stressed.
Aquino also noted that when then Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos was one of his colleagues at the House of
Representatives, she helped him implement a hybrid rice program for his constituents.
It was Aquino’s first time to set foot in “Marcos territory” here since Marcos, who was ousted by people power
revolution in 1986, declared Martial Law in 1972.
On the other hand, Aquino also said he would not interfere in ongoing court cases involving the Marcoses’
alleged ill-gotten wealth.“Ang request pahintuin, palagay ko hindi naman tama ang pahintuin ang ongoing na
sa korte na mga trial. Pabayaan natin ang korte di pwede pakialaman ang magiging desisyon tungkol sa
kaso,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aquino said he is confident he can get the support he needs from Ilocos Norte voters; amid
reports he is second among presidential bets here.
“Isipin mo first time ako nagpunta rito, kung pumapangalawa na ako, palagay ko maganda nang resulta yan
at narito ako para magpasalamat dahil sa senatorial campaign ko, di hamak mas maganda ang resulta ko
sa Ilocos Norte kesa Pampanga, na-magic tayo nang husto, 10 ako sa Ilocos, 12 sa Pampang,” he said.
The LP bet was accompanied in his campaign sortie to Northern Luzon by his sister Kris, and brother-in-law
James Yap.
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SC decision allowing GMA to pick next Chief Justice could provoke a military revolt,
Gen. Danny Lim says
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“Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is inviting a new military uprising.”
This is the fearless forecast of detained Brigadier General Danilo “Danny” Lim on the recent decision of the
Supreme Court allowing Mrs. Arroyo to pick a replacement for Chief Justice Reynato Puno.
Lim made the statement as hundreds of lawyers, law students, social movements and personalities took to
the streets today to denounce the controversial decision, which the bemedalled soldier described as the
Arroyo administration’s “concluding manoeuvre to control the judiciary in its effort to avoid persecution for its
high crimes against the people.”
“Lest we forget, the possibility of a military uprising becomes real when democratic institutions are weakened
to the point where the check and balance mechanisms are severely skewered, and when civilian authorities
blatantly contravenes the rule of law and the constitution; as what this government has done so many times,”
Lim said.
Lim believes restive sections of the military are closely monitoring the country’s current political juncture and
are disgruntled anew with how the high court ruled on the CJ appointment issue.
“Can we blame the ordinary soldier? When the judiciary is anything but luminous, when the legislature is the
plaything of Malacanang and when our poll body is widely perceived as a cheating apparatus, can we fault the
ordinary soldier if he decided to heed his conscience and rise up?” Lim asked.
However, Lim who is also running as senator in the May 2010 elections distanced himself from the prospect
of new military uprising. He said he has already chosen a new path to pursue his advocacy for social change.
“I have already done my part and I have no regrets. While ‘a new rising’ may not come from our end, I am
certain, as long as this government is in power and continues to rule with total disregard for our democratic
institutions, the possibility of a soldier’s revolt is always there,” Lim asserted.
Yesterday, different groups said a new people power uprising may erupt as all the legal and permissible
avenues to safeguard the country’s democratic institutions were already hijacked by Mrs. Arroyo. It was
reported that Akbayan party-list Representative Walden Bello said the SC’s decision can “spill into the streets”
turning it to “street battles ala-Edsa in lieu of legal battles.”
As such, Lim appealed to the high tribunal to overturn its decision. He said he supports the Filipino people in
calling on the sense of the court to forbid Mrs. Arroyo from making a mockery of our judiciary.
“Gloria has already done so much damage to our political institutions. The Supreme Court has the unique
opportunity to settle this peacefully. Let the rule of law prevail. Lest they want to witness an uprising powered
by the people and military, the high tribunal must heed the public’s clamor,” Lim ended
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