President Rodrigo Duterte has renewed his administration’s commitment to social justice especially for the poor and homeless.
Speaking to beneficiaries and workers at the National Housing Authority Summit on Wednesday, February 8, the President turned nostalgic and spoke about the social policies he undertook when he was mayor of Davao City.
“Pare pareho lang tayo dito.” Duterte said stressing his administration’s policy of social equality.
“Kailangan maintindihan ang tao. When I was mayor it was my policy that there will be no demolition kung walang malipatan. Di naman mga aso yan,” he added.
The President likewise called on officials of the NHA to ensure that there will be no corruption in the agency under his term.
“So ito talaga ang inuna ko, ito ‘yun sila ang housing ng Davao si Jun. At si Jun nilagay. Sabi ko, ‘Jun, ilagay kita diyan. Kindly. Walang corruption ha’,” Duterte said referring to Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco, who is the chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
The NHA, headed by General Manager Marcelino Escalada, is under the supervision of HUDCC.
“Although I know him to be not corrupt but I reminded him again. Sila Escalada,” Duterte added.
The Chief Executive said he will not spare anyone, not even his friends, when the welfare of the nation is on the line.
“Magkaibigan tayo I want you to coast along with me for five more plus, plus months at sabi ko, avoid corruption sa lahat ng — pati ‘yung Gabinete na. Magkaibigan tayo pero when it comes to the welfare of my nation, wala talagang areglo ’yan,” he said.
The President lamented the corruption issue in the housing project for victims of supertyphoon Yolanda in Tacloban.
“So I learned that there were only about 28 relocatees who were placed doon sa ano. Kaya sabi ko… last week of November sabi ko, “I’ll be back December. ‘Pag wala pa ‘yang mga tao naglipat diyan, maghanap kayo ng ibang trabaho. Pati sila,” Duterte said.
He also said that under his term, each department will only be given one month to process all papers.
“Ang mga director and I’m warning you, you only have 15 days,” he said.
“Ang sa local government, I have ordered them to obey ‘yung mga permit kailangan three days. Sa Davao three days lang eh,” he added.###PND
