News Update Binay Vows Support for Housing in Abra

BANGUED, Abra - Vice-President Jejomar C. Binay promised to help the provincial government here in its housing projects which stand to benefit local residents and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the different parts of the province. In his visit here over the weekend, the so-called "housing czar" and "hope of OFWs met with the local officials, national agency heads and the media to discuss the anticipatory construction of housing units so that in times of calamities, there are already units that are ready for occupancy. For this to materialize, Binay is requiring at least two hectares of land for the initial construction of 200 units good for 200 families, plus another three hectares for expansion for the construction of additional units and the provision of amenities within the housing project. "All we need to do is to give a "sovereign guarantee" to our investors since the National Housing Authority can not provide all the funding to our proposed housing projects because our national government can only give so much," Binay said. The Vice President also promised to follow up the project proposal of the Manabo municipal government for its Kasagudan Resettlement Project which has long been awaiting financial support from the national government. The provincial government has an on-going housing project in the town of Peñarrubia but had been long delayed due to lack of funding. Moreover, Binay also vowed to be more efficient in extending the benefits to OFWs and their families. He chairs the Office of the Presidential Adviser for OFW Concerns. Giving tips on local governance, Binay said local government units should computerize their transactions if they want to increase their revenue collections. Computerization of the LGUs especially the offices of the Assessor, the Treasurer and the Mayor would eliminate corruption since there will be uniformity in the computation of taxes, he explained. On his stand on the proposed abolition of Sangguniang Kabataan elections, the VP said he is for the abolition of SK elections but he stressed that there should still be a youth representative in the municipal/city council. Binay said he is also in favor of the barangay elections as well. "We can easily appoint barangay officials and do away with the expensive barangay elections. This way, the mayor can easily terminate a barangay official who does not perform', he pointed out. Asked about his program of establishing sisterhood with other local government units particularly those among low income municipalities, Binay said they only have to submit a resolution to the City Government of Makati which is now under the leadership of his own son. He informed that Makati City has P2 billion educational fund which they are willing to share with other LGUs that need their assistance.