Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said that budget of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development must be increased to meet the Filipino people’s housing needs.
During the house budget hearing, Rodriguez pointed out that the “measly” proposed budget for the housing department is not nearly enough and urged lawmakers to support higher funding for the agency.
The agency requested P77 billion for 2021 but was allocated only P3.68 billion in the proposed National Expenditure Program.
“Let us correct this. We can never solve housing and give human dignity to our people if this is the kind of budget that we give,” Rodriguez said during the House budget hearing.
Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario also gave an update on the rehabilitation of Marawi City when asked by a lawmaker, saying that it is expected to be completed by December 2021.
“The different public infrastructures are now ongoing in the most affected area and even outside the ground zero of Marawi City. So it will be completed by December of 2021,” del Rosario said, responding to a question by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Isagani Zarate.
The southern city had been reduced to rubble in a 5-month terrorist siege in 2017. Local officials have scored delays in rehabilitation.
