Go pushes bill on rental housing subsidy

SEN. Bong Go pushed for the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 192 that seeks to institutionalize a rental housing subsidy program, as he extended aid to fire victims in Muntinlupa City.

On May 10, the senator delivered additional support to 483 families affected by a fire in Barangay Alabang.

Fire victims received grocery packs, water containers, snacks, vitamins, masks, shirts, and balls for basketball and volleyball.

In a video call, Go vowed to help the victims during their time of need.

“Let us remember, personal belongings can be bought. Money can be earned. But money can’t buy life,” he said in Filipino.

The National Housing Authority, through the Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), provided financial assistance to the victims to help rebuild their homes.

Go said fires, natural disasters, poverty, unemployment, and limited access to affordable housing, cause homelessness in the country.

Under SB 192, a housing and social protection program will be developed to provide disaster victims access to the formal housing market through rental subsidies provided by the government.

“I advocated EHAP and will continue to support it to help fire victims buy housing materials such as galvanized iron, nails, cement among others,” Go said.

The senator also said that he authored Republic Act (RA) 11589, or the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Modernization Act of 2021.

RA 11589 provides a comprehensive 10-year modernization program for the BFP, including recruiting additional firefighters, acquiring modern firefighting equipment, and providing specialized training.