Senator cites ADB study in proposal for creation of urban poor commission

SEN. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, citing an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study, prodded Congress to front-load the passage of a law creating a National Commission for the Urban Poor, with marching orders to address socialized housing problems, among other major concerns.

In filing Senate Bill (SB) 2074, Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, stressed the need to pursue “participatory governance” in formulating policies for the urban poor and fulfill the commission’s role in poverty reduction.

“Alleviating poverty is one of the primary thrust of the government,” he said on Wednesday, noting that while there are many factors attributable to the state of poverty, an ADB study in 2009 said “the poor remain poor because they cannot borrow against future earnings to invest in education, skills, new crops and entrepreneurial activities.”

Ejercito added: “It is stated that they are cut off from economic activity because many property rights, public safety and infrastructure are said to be ‘underprovided’ and these people lack information about market opportunities.”

The senator asserted in a news statement that “clearly, these factors are manifestations of disproportionate and inaccessible opportunities in the society.”

He strongly suggested that the government “bridge these gaps in the form of sound policies,” citing, for instance, pending remedial legislations to expand local housing projects.

While Ejercito’s SB 2074 would create a National Commission for the Urban Poor as the “focal facilitator” in addressing socialized housing problems, the senator acknowledged the continued existence of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor serving as a direct link of urban poor to the government in policy formulation and program implementation.

As envisioned in the bill, the proposed National Commission for the Urban Poor Act shall be composed of a chairman, with a rank and privileges of a departmental undersecretary. The chairman shall act as chief executive officer with four commissioners representing the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao to be given the rank and privileges of assistant secretaries of a department.

Ejercito said that his bill further provides “they shall be appointed by the President from among the list of nominees submitted by a duly-organized and accredited urban poor organization or institutions with national and regional constituencies and will serve a three-year term.”

  The senator added an executive director shall be included in the composition of the commission with a term of one year, subject to yearly reappointment.

Apart from shelter-related projects, the commission is also tasked to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in taking measures that will plan and regulate urban activities for the conservation and protection of vital, unique and sensitive ecosystem.