A group of real estate professionals have banded with some representatives of the marginalized urban poor and informal settlers in Cebu City in a concerted effort to select the right leader who is competent enough to address their concerns and work for their best interest once given the mandate by the people to serve as the country’s Chief Executive in the forthcoming May 9, 2022 elections.
As enshrined in the Philippine constitution, the government must ensure that the underprivileged and homeless citizens must have access to an adequate, safe, secure, habitable, sustainable, resilient and affordable home.
Also, the State, by law and for the common good, is mandated to undertake, in cooperation with the private sector, a continuing program of housing and urban development which shall make available at affordable cost, decent housing and basic services to the underprivileged and homeless citizens in urban centers and resettled areas.
Driven by this goal, the group held a consultative meeting with some informal settlers in Cebu City at Century Plaza Hotel recently with hopes of finding a servant leader who can be the voice of reason for those who cannot speak in the field of socialized housing.
Nathaniel Chua, a real estate broker who is one of the convenors of the movement, said real estate professionals have the moral and social obligation to help the urban poor sector in their housing concerns being the top players in the industry.
“Initially man gud ang mga real estate brokers nagka-estorya mi nga dunay problema sa housing sa Pilipinas specifically sa Cebu. Atong nakita nga duna gyuy kakulangan sa housing unya tungod kay naa mi sa industriya, sa real estate or house and lot pamaligya sa yuta ug balay, ang among nakat-onan nga mga teoriya kulang siya so kinahanglan mi mangutanana mismo sa informal settlers unsa gyud ilang problema aron mas masabtan namo,” Chua said.
Housing Sector Convenor Nathaniel Chua
“Unya duna pud ni connection sa umaabot nga election tungod kay ang mga real estate brokers nangita pud ta og mga kandidato nga magbitbit sa interes sa katawhan ilabi na gyud sa hisgutanan sa pabalay kay ang pabalay dili lang ni problema sa mga pobre even sa mga middle class kay dili affordable ang balay,” he added.
Through their initial activity, the group aims to identify the varying problems hounding the informal settlers and hear from them first-hand what they believe are the possible solution to all their concerns.
“This is just a consultation stage on housing concerns of the urban poor in Cebu City. Ang tumong of our group here in Cebu is to determine what are the real concerns, on the ground concerns of the urban settlers and from there we can determine how as practitioners in the real estate sector we could assist or give voice to the voiceless,” shared Emily Cabillada, who is part of the organizing committee.
Housing Sector Convenor Emily Cabillada
“We can use may be our influence in the industry to bring their concerns to the proper government agencies especially during election time. We can push policies of the right person or right candidates that will help realize all their solutions because there are many promises but not all can deliver,” Cabillada continued.
Chua said they plan to hold more consultations in the coming weeks to know right from the horse’s mouth who are their preferred candidate that can work for their welfare and safeguard their rights in the field of housing.
“Duna pa tay mga succeeding nga mga consulation aron pagpili og kinsa gyud mga kandidato nga dunay track record mahitungod sa housing ug dunay maayong programa para sa housing sa Pilipinas sa sunod nga unom ka tuig ug beyond sa six years pa,” said Chua.
“Ang usa ka lider nga atong gitan-aw kanang duna gyuy limpiyong track record ug dunay plano unsaon pagsulbad sa atong problema sa housing. Mao kini ang pinakabug-at nga criteria sa pagpili og kandidato kay usahay sayon man gud isaad nga maghimo ta’g programa sa pabalay, atong hatagan ang mga pobre og balay, maghimo ta og affordable nga balay apan sa dihang nakalingkod na sila, wala man silay mga track record. Apan bisan wala silay track record, duna gihapoy mga tawo nga nitoo nila kay grabi nga pagkaylap sa fake news so kami as real estate brokers, duna pud tay responsibilidad sa katilingban nga motabang og pasabot sa mga informal settlers kon kinsa gyud ang mga lider nga haum nga magbitbit sa ilang interes.”
“Naglaum mi nga makab-ot namo ang initial unity unsaon pagsulbad ang problema ug hopefully duna tay mga follow through nga meeting mahisgutan nato og kinsa sa mga nanagan karon ang tinuod nga nagbitbit sa interes sa mga informal settlers,” Chua furthered.
“Sagol-sagol ni among grupo coming from different groups. Consultation pani siya ug pinaagi aning consultation, dili na mag-iyahay og pili og kandidato. Hopefully nga sa daghan nga mga presidentiables ug vice presidentiables maghiusa mi kay kon dili mi maghiusa, wala tay lig-on nga leverage pagkab-ot sa kabag-ohan.”
In choosing the right person though, Chua emphasized that they must also be realistic.
“Election is not only being a good leader. Kinahanglan sa election nga winnable sad ka kay unsaon man nimo pag-implementar sa imong programa bisan unsa nimo kamaayo kung dili ka modaog. So duna gyud nay balanse, having a good housing program and also being winnable. Mao na among suportaan ug i-endorse nga karapat-dapat nga atong suportaan nga presidente sa atong nasud.”
“Grabi ang problema sa housing. Kining isyu sa pabalay dili lang seguridad sa yuta ug pamuyo, apil na niini ang kinsay dunay programa sa environment kay angay sab natong proteksiyonan atong balay against natural calamity so hopefully nga kini makab-ot nato ang kahiusahan. Wala tay specific nga gisuportaan karon but og unsay mahiusahan sa grupo segurado gyud nga maoy atong dad-on karong May 9 election,” Chua ended.
Marilou Canizares, one of the group’s prime movers, sums it up all.
“Our ultimate goal is that we will be studying the agenda of the other running candidates. Kinsa ang mo-support sa maong cause, adto gyud mi,” she said.
Housing Sector Convenor Marilou Canizares
“Among gipangita nga leader is the one who is transparent, who knows the law, dunay limpiyong track record, and makatabang gyud. Nakasugod na siya’g tabang unya segurado gyud mi nga mo-continue gyud siya, much more og ma-leader na, nga mo-serve sa mga pobre,” Canizares concluded.
