By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star) Updated October 14, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The government is looking at building 50,000 mass housing units by the end of the year to meet part of the 3.7 million housing backlog in the country, Vice President Binay said yesterday.
In an interview on the sidelines of the 36th Philippine Business Conference (PBC) yesterday, Binay said that the initial target was to build 50,000 mass housing units by the end of 2010.
Binay, who is also the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman said that they are also planning to build new communities in anticipation of disasters.
“This will reduce inadequacies in the housing,” he said. Binay explained that it is better to build new communities or re-settlement areas now before the need arises instead of building houses after natural disasters.
For this project, he said that they are open to joint venture projects with private developers.
Binay also said that there is still a need to include mass housing to the Investment Priorities Plan.
Currently, mass housing projects receive incentives under the IPP. However, the availment of incentives has been subject to misinterpretation.
Binay said that he will be reviewing the definition of mass housing. Currently, any housing project worth P3 million and below is considered mass housing.
______________________________________________________________
